BJP Names Mohan Yadav As New Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister

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• Dec 11, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh has elected Ujjain Dakshin MLA Mohan Yadav as the successor to...

Digital Desk: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh has elected Ujjain Dakshin MLA Mohan Yadav as the successor to Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The decision was made during a BJP legislative party meeting held in Bhopal, marking the end of speculation regarding the chief ministerial post. Yadav, a member of the Other Backward Classes (OBC), served as the higher education minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet.

The announcement comes eight days after the assembly election results were declared, where the BJP secured a massive mandate, winning 163 out of the 230 assembly seats. Mohan Yadav's name was not initially considered in the race for the Chief Minister's position, making him a dark horse in the selection process.

In a departure from the usual practice, Mohan Yadav will have two Deputy Chief Ministers – Rewa MLA Rajendra Shula and Malhargarh MLA Jagdish Devda. Additionally, former Union Minister Narendra Tomar, now an MLA from Dimni, has been chosen as the Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly.

The BJP's decision to appoint Mohan Yadav as the Chief Minister is seen as a strategic move to address caste equations in the state, especially in light of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third consecutive term.

The legislative party meeting was attended by three central observers – Manohar Lal Khattar, Dr. K Laxman, and Asha Lakra. Prior to the meeting, a photo session featuring the newly elected MLAs and central observers was held.

Notable leaders who were previously considered contenders for the Chief Minister's post included former Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Prahlad Patel, BJP state chief VD Sharma, and Kailash Vijayvargiya. Yesterday, BJP MLA Kailash Vijayvargiya's meeting with incumbent CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan fueled speculation about his candidature.

The assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh took place on November 17, with the counting of votes concluding on December 3. The BJP, overcoming nearly two decades of incumbency, secured a resounding victory with 163 seats, while the Congress finished as a distant second with 66 seats.