The BJP has implemented a strategy of selecting relatively unknown candidates and bringing them to the forefront by appointing first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan. This follows similar moves in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The party has also maintained a balanced representation of different caste groups in these appointments. All three new Chief Ministers are under 60 and have ties to the RSS-affiliated student wing, ABVP. The decision to appoint new and unfamiliar faces is seen as a way to keep the party organization relevant in Indian politics. The role of former Chief Ministers in these states remains to be seen. Sharma’s candidacy was proposed by former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and endorsed by senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh. Sharma has a history of political involvement and activism and has expressed his commitment to the development of Rajasthan under the leadership of PM Modi. The BJP won 115 out of the 199 seats in the polls.
The BJP’s Strategy to Remain Relevant in Indian Politics: From Obscurity and ABVP to the Limelight
