Secrecy and shock — these two are the mottos of the Narendra Modi-led ‘new BJP’ on the subject of selecting chief ministers.

The varied CM probables go silent lest they spoil their possibilities, no lobbying or present of energy or stress works, and taking the ‘right decision’ takes priority over how a lot time it takes to make one. Further, solely the highest three within the BJP — Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda — know who the final word selection is.

As 4 days have handed after the large win for the BJP within the three heartland states, the suspense over who would be the chief minister continues. Journalists have put out speculative lists of as many as 20 CM probables within the three states. But we aren’t any wiser about whom the BJP will lastly select. There is a historical past to it.

Yogi to Patel, Everybody Left Surprised

Yogi Adityanath had thought he would get a much-needed break after the hectic election marketing campaign in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, as he was to go overseas for a parliament committee tour. His title had nowhere featured within the chief ministerial race within the elections and his image was not even there on ballot posters.

But on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions, the overseas ministry denied him permission to go overseas, and some days later, BJP president Amit Shah referred to as him to Delhi and informed him that he could be the CM. Yogi Adityanath was shocked as he had not even carried a change of garments to Delhi however he headed to Lucknow and was declared the CM. Everyone was left shocked!

In 2021, Bhupendra Patel was holding a small assembly in his constituency in Ahmedabad and planting saplings on the street when he obtained a name to achieve the BJP workplace the place all MLAs had been summoned. He occupied a seat within the final row on the assembly earlier than his title was introduced because the Gujarat CM rather than Vijay Rupani. Some needed to Google Patel’s title to know extra about him, as all distinguished names had been speculated within the media until then.

How will the Decision Pan Out This Time

In Rajasthan, two-time former chief minister Vasundhara Raje has proven energy by showcasing how greater than 40 MLAs visited her residence in Jaipur, and some of them issued statements that she needs to be made the CM. Other reviews emerged that just a few MLAs had been in a farmhouse in Rajasthan on the behest of Raje. She is now in Delhi and met BJP president JP Nadda for over an hour. Those who cowl the BJP know such stress techniques don’t work within the ‘new-age’ BJP led by Modi.

Was the assembly therefore extra about making Raje fall in line and settle for the get together’s choice somewhat than flout get together self-discipline? Comparatively, Madhya Pradesh’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken a cautious line, even stating that he’s not in any race to change into the CM and has not undertaken a visit to Delhi. Instead, he headed to Chhindwara on Thursday and might be in Raghopur on Friday — areas the place the BJP misplaced seats within the latest meeting elections.

From Baba Balaknath to Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Rathore — all CM probables being talked about within the media have gone silent in the previous couple of days and have prevented the media whereas they visited Parliament. In Madhya Pradesh, Prahlad Patel and Narendra Singh Tomar have additionally adopted a line of silence. In the phrases of a senior BJP chief, when he calls some leaders after seeing their faces as probables on TV, they’re fast to say they haven’t pushed their title within the media.

So why is the choice taking so lengthy? Even Congress has now requested the identical. “Taking the proper choice is vital, not the period of time taken,” a senior BJP leader explained. Till it is announced, speculation will be on — women CMs, OBC or Dalit faces or experienced hands or green horns? At the cost of repeating, only three men know.