Having secured their electoral mandate, the spotlight now shifts to the BJP as the pivotal question emerges: who will be the chosen leader to assume the mantle of Chief Minister?
Notably, the party has maintained a strategic silence, refraining from publicly endorsing any specific candidate for the prestigious position in the aftermath of this year’s assembly polls. This intriguing decision adds an extra layer of suspense to the political landscape, leaving both supporters and political observers on the edge of anticipation, awaiting the unveiling of the BJP’s chosen leader for Rajasthan.
Here are BJP’s potential Chief Minister candidates in Rajasthan:
- All
- Madhya Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Telangana
- Chhattisgarh
- Mizoram
1. Vasundhara Raje
Vasundhara Raje, the daughter of Vijayaraje Scindia and Jivajirao Scindia-Shinde, Maharaja of Gwalior, members of the prominent Scindia royal Maratha family is still hopeful of taking over the reins of the desert state for the third time.
The two-time chief minister who is fondly called ‘Rani’ across Rajasthan credited PM Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, and the people for the state’s victory. Winning the Jhalrapatan Assembly seat by a significant margin, Raje is still considered for challenging norms and leading on her own terms in Rajasthan.
Raje managed to win the Jhalrapatan Assembly seat by a thumping margin of 53,193 votes.
2. Baba Balak Nath
As per a TOI report, Baba Balak Nath, seen as a mirror image of Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, could become the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
Chancellor of Baba Mast Nath University in Haryana’s Rohtak city, Baba Balaknath is the eighth mahant of Baba Mast Nath Math, the national headquarters of the Nath yogis’ sect, to which he was dedicated at the age of 6
His parents, Subhash Yadav and Urmila Devi, were devout followers of Baba Mast Nath Dera and had vowed to dedicate their firstborn to its service. Baba Balak Nath was initiated into the order through the traditional Nath ear-piercing ritual.
In 2016, he was declared the successor of Mast Nath Dera. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and yoga guru Baba Ramdev attended that ceremony.
Known as ‘Rajasthan ka Yogi,’ Baba Balaknath won his constituency, Tijara, by a significant margin.
3. Royal Diya Kumari
Princess Diya Kumari, a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, has emerged as a strong contender to the crown. Right after the BJP’s impressive win, this royal’s name gained traction as one of the key faces vying for the top job.
The 52-year-old granddaughter of Man Singh II, the last ruling maharaja of the princely state of Jaipur, made her debut with the BJP in 2013. Her political baptism by fire happened when she was sent to take on then BJP rebel Kirori Lal Meena from the Meena-dominated constituency for the Assembly polls that year.
In earlier interviews, Diya Kumari has acknowledged the influence of Gayatri Devi, her step-grandmother. From charities to philanthropy, she has tried to emulate the trail blazed by Gayatri Devi. “My grandmother was ahead of her time and an icon. She is definitely my inspiration,” she had said in an interview.
She secured victory in the Vidhyadhar Nagar seat during the Rajasthan Assembly polls on Sunday, with an impressive lead of 71,368 votes. Hailing from the former Jaipur royal family, Diya Kumari defeated Congress candidate Sitaram Agrawal, garnering 1,58,516 votes and surpassing Agarwal, who received 87,148 votes.