Amid suspense over the choices of the chief ministers in the three Hindi heartland states, a senior BJP leader has said that the crucial decision would be made over the weekend.
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya told reporters in Bhopal on Thursday that the suspense and speculation over the CM choices in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh will be over by December 10.
However, he refused to comment on whether the chief ministers will be new faces. Vijayvargiya also did not respond to rumours that outsiders will be chosen this time.
Meanwhile, the BJP is likely to name central observers for electing the leaders of its legislature parties in these three states on Friday, a senior party leader told PTI. The observers will then travel to the respective state to oversee the meetings of newly-elected MLAs, where the future chief ministers will be named.
He added that no decision has been taken yet on the chief ministers and the party will keep in mind social, regional, governance and organisational interests while making the choices.
Hectic parleys continued in the BJP camp on Thursday too. BJP national president J P Nadda was seen leaving the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday evening after a long meeting. Leaders from the three states have also been meeting the top party brass over the last few days but sources played it down, calling the meetings routine affairs.
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje was seen also visiting Nadda at his residence. Reports claimed that Nadda met Raje to take her into confidence and to seek her views before finalising the chief minister.
Raje's visit assumes significance amid allegations that her camp has been herding MLAs to a resort. A visit by five party MLAs from Kota division to a resort on the outskirts of the city created a buzz in Rajasthan on Thursday. The rumours gained strength after the father of Lalit Meena, a newly elected legislator from Kishanganj in Baran district, claimed his son had been confined in the resort by the other four. The father alleged that MLA Kanwar Lal Meena forced his son to stay at the resort upon the instructions of Raje's son and MP Dushyant Singh. Later, Kanwar Lal Meena issued a press statement refuting the allegations.
Narendra Singh Tomar, a seasoned BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh whose resignation as Union minister was accepted on Thursday, and Baba Balaknath, who is from Rajasthan, met Shah on Thursday.