BJP appoints observers to set ball rolling on CM picks

THE OBSERVERS WILL MEET THE LEGISLATORS OVER THE WEEKEND TO ARRIVE AT THE NAME FOR THE LEGISLATIVE PARTY LEADERS

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday named observers for Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, setting in motion the process of selecting chief ministers for the three states where the party bagged impressive victories in recently concluded assembly polls.

The observers will begin the process of selecting the leaders of the legislative parties - an exercise that has till now been shrouded in suspense amid a flurry of meetings between top BJP leaders and quiet shows of strength by some aspirants for the job.

For Rajasthan, the party appointed Union minister Rajnath Singh, party general secretary Vinod Tawde and Rajya Sabha MP Saroj Pande as observers. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, national secretary Asha Lakra and Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman will oversee the process in Madhya Pradesh. In Chhattisgarh, Union ministers Arjun Munda and Sarbanand Sonowal, and party general secretary Dushyant Gautam will take charge.

The observers will hold a meeting with the legislators over the weekend to arrive at the name for the legislative party leader, said a person aware of the details. This leader said the names will be announced after the meetings.