The BJP eventually declared that Vishnu Deo Sai, a former Union Minister, will take over as the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh following days of rumors and waiting. The saffron party achieved a stunning triumph, marking a significant change from 2018.
One of the most prominent tribal leaders in Chhattisgarh is reportedly Sai. The 59-year-old Sai, a former Union Minister and four-time MP for the Lok Sabha, was also thrice an MLA in Madhya Pradesh’s undivided state. If Sai is elected to power, Amit Shah had promised to make him a “big man” during an election rally.
After being elected, Sai, while addressing reporters, said: “As the chief minister, I will try to fulfil PM Modi’s guarantees (pre-poll promises of the BJP) through the government. Sanctioning 18 lakh houses (to beneficiaries of a housing scheme) will be the first work (to be done) in the state.”
Reacting to the announcement, former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh wrote on social media platform X: “Best wishes to Kunkuri MLA and tribal leader Shri @vishnudsai ji on getting the responsibility of serving Chhattisgarh Mahtari as the Chief Minister unanimously in the Legislative Party meeting today. I have full confidence that under your leadership, we all will be successful in bringing progressive changes in the state by fulfilling the promises of BJP’s Sankalp Patra (Modi’s Guarantee) with full dedication and under the double engine government of BJP, Chhattisgarh will develop at double the speed. Will set new records.”
Outgoing CM Bhupesh Baghel, too, extended his wishes, saying: “Congratulations and best wishes to Kunkuri MLA and senior BJP leader Shri Vishnu Dev Sai ji on being elected as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party. I wish that you take forward the journey of justice and progress of Chhattisgarh as the Chief Minister.”
Renuka Singh, another BJP leader who was in the running for the CM’s post, said, “Sai ji is more experienced than me.” When asked as to who backed Sai, Singh added, “Raman Singh ji, Lata Usendi (former minister) and Brijmohan Agrawal (longest serving MLA who won for 8th time) backed him.”
A week after the results were announced, the new chief ministers were not announced. This delay sparked rumors that the national leadership of the BJP would be considering significant changes, given the need to retain the party’s overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha elections, which are just five months away.
The BJP won 54 seats in the 90-member Assembly, forcing the Congress to cede Chhattisgarh. In contrast to exit poll results, the BJP’s total more than tripled from only 15 in 2018, with a confident Bhupesh Baghel leading the Congress drive as the state’s chief minister. In addition to its organization and unrelenting assault on Baghel about allegations of corruption, the BJP’s introduction of new or fresh candidates in as many as 47 constituencies contributed to its largest-ever victory total.
Congress’s 2018 victory total—which included 68 of the 90 seats available—nearly halved to 35. Tuleshwar, the son of Gondvana Gantantra Party founder Hari Singh Markam, won the Pali-Tanakhar seat, which has been held by the Congress since 2003, by a margin of 714 votes, giving the party its first seat.
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