BJP's tribal face Vishnu Deo Sai to be C'garh CM

Nine days after it stormed to power in Chhattisgarh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday announced that experienced tribal leader Vishnu Dev Sai will be the state’s next chief minister. The announcement is the first for the three states that the BJP won in the recent clutch of five assembly elections, with decisions for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh likely to be announced this week.

- Ritesh Mishra

On Sunday, the central observers appointed by the party — Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal and party general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam — flew to Raipur and convened a meeting of the 54 newly elected legislators at the Kushabhau Thakre Parisar, the state BJP office. Sai’s name was adopted unanimously, senior leaders said.

In his first comments after his appointment, Sai said, “As chief minister, I will try to fulfil Modi’s guarantees (BJP’s pre-poll promises) through my government. Sanctioning 18 lakh (1.8 million) houses to beneficiaries of the housing scheme will be the first thing to be done,” Sai said.

He said that he had been chosen anonymously and was thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda for their trust.

“I will work for ‘Sabka Vishwas’ with all honesty and the promises made to the people of Chhattisgarh under ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ will be fulfilled,” Sai said.