Rajasthan: BJP takes yet another surprise move by naming first-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma as new CM

The BJP defeated Congress to return to power in Rajasthan in the recently concluded Assembly polls.

The saffron brigade named Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa as the deputy chief ministers of Rajasthan.

Vasudev Devnani was named as the Speaker of the assembly.

Former CM Vasundhara Raje, who was the frontrunner for the post, proposed Sharma's name before the MLAs and the central observers, reported Hindustan Times.

The decision was taken during the meeting of the BJP Legislative Party (BJPLP) in the presence of centrally appointed observer Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and co-observers party's national vice-president Saroj Pandey and national general secretary Vinod Tawade.

Making a formal announcement after the BJPLP meeting, Rajnath Singh said that during the meeting the name of Bhajan Lal Sharma was proposed which was supported unanimously.

"Bhajanlal Sharma has been elected as the leader of the BJPLP unanimously," he said.

"On behalf of BJP it is also proposed that Vasudev Devnani will be the Speaker," he said.

Expressing confedence on Sharma's leadership, Rajnath Singh said, "I am confident that under the leadership of Bhajanlal Sharma Rajasthan will move on the path of development."

In Rajasthan, BJP returned to power by winning 115 seats in the 199-seat assembly.

The BJP also left political observers befuddled after it named Ujjain South MLA Mohan Yadav as the new Chief Minister-elect for Madhya Pradesh.