BJP appoints first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as next Rajasthan CM; picks Prem Chand Bairwa and Diya Kumari as deputy CMs

In a surprise decision that would have surprised many of its party officials too, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (December 12, 2023) picked Bhajan Lal Sharma, the first-time MLA from  the Sanganer assembly constituency, as the 13th Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

First-time MLA Bhajanlal Sharma selected as new Rajasthan CM

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/jXSwT0YYtN#Rajasthan #RajasthanCM #BhajanlalSharma #BJP pic.twitter.com/9KohQkJJgC

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) December 12, 2023

The decision to pick Sharma as the next chief minister of the state was taken in a prty meeting in Jaipur on Tuesday amid the presence of BJP observers Rajnath Singh, Vinod Tawde and Saroj Pandey. 

#WATCH | On Bhajanlal Sharma as the new Rajasthan CM, state BJP leader Dr.Kirodi Lal Meena says, "I am very happy. He will take the state ahead. His name was proposed by Vasundhara ji and I forwarded the name...I am not in line for a minister post." pic.twitter.com/j7JjlDdFxD

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

MLA from the Dudu seat, Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa, and the MLA from Vidhyadhar Nagar, Diya Kumari, have been appointed the Deputy Chief Ministers of Rajasthan.

#WATCH | Rajasthan CM-designate Bhajanlal Sharma says, "...I would like to assure you that all the MLAs of Rajasthan will definitely meet the expectations that the people have with us, with the BJP. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we will ensure holistic development of… pic.twitter.com/CAF23kys4O

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

Vasudev Devnani has been elected as the speaker of the assembly.

#WATCH | "Bhajanlal Sharma has been elected as the leader of the Rajasthan BJP Legislature Party. There will be two Deputy CMs- Diya Singh and Dr. Prem Chand Bairwa. Vasudev Devnani to be the Speaker," says BJP central observer for Rajasthan, Rajnath Singh pic.twitter.com/XyqGKDo40o

— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2023

Sharma was holding the post of a mahamantri in the state before the BJP picked him for the post of CM. 

Sharma won the Sanganer assembly seat by a massive margin. He secured 145162 votes to beat the Congress' Pushpendra Bhardwaj, who got 97081 votes.