The Bharatiya Janata Party’s central leadership seems to be in no hurry to announce the names of the Chief Minister candidates in the three States it won in the recent Assembly polls. It is evident that the Saffron Brigade is looking towards the future and could opt for a generational change while finalizing the names. For the party, it is not important at this stage as to who would be the CM since it is now aiming with all its might, organizational strength and money muscles on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The point which is very clear so far is that the victory in the Assembly polls as interpreted in party circles was solely because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and not because of its established leaders, who remain hopeful but are now absolutely dependent on the wishes of the High Command. The party calculations are that since the showing in the recently concluded polls demonstrated people’s faith in Modi, it is him and he alone who should determine the name of the CM. Modi is a 24X7 politician but he can obviously be not everywhere and needs his party representatives to carry his messages to the electorate. He is aware that Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s popularity had contributed to the win in Madhya Pradesh and many of his colleagues would want Vasundhara Raje to be at the helm of affairs in Rajasthan besides a larger role for Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh. The point is that if any of these leaders were to be given this position, where was the need to delay the matters? The decision will be taken after the team of observers sent to the three States gives its feedback to the Central leadership. It is merely a formality and their being there is simply to complete the process and give an impression that a democratic exercise was being conducted. The whole country knows that Modi is the Supreme leader and it is his choice that would matter everywhere. People did not vote for the BJP but for him, something which could be a matter of worry in the long run, particularly in the post-Modi scenario in the future. The Modi-Shah team, has been keen on propping up younger leaders who can serve the States and the organization for a long time. In Karnataka, they recently gave the nod for the appointment of Vijayendra Yeddyurappa as the State Chief. The declaration of his name has not gone too well with a large number of party workers. However, they have no option but to work under Vijayendra’s leadership in a difficult election that lies ahead, with Siddaramaiah fully in control and likely to give the BJP, a run for its money. Overall, the party does not have very prominent names leading its poll efforts in majority of States, and if the three established leaders in the States which went to poll, do not figure as the choices of the High Command, then it would virtually be a sort of political retirement for them. The BJP has sidelined many leaders who had done well in the past and are now a part of the Marg Darshak Mandal. Many seniors were also appointed Governors to take them out of the electoral race. The BJP is undergoing a transformation and its objective is to prepare for the future. However, the three leaders in the three States, have a lot of politics left in them and could deliver in the future also. Under the circumstances that prevail, they may not be in any position to oppose the High Command’s decisions but in the long run, their remaining disgruntled should not be seen as a good sign. Vasundhara has been in an out of Delhi, making a last-ditch effort to get back the leadership of Rajasthan. This seems very unlikely and it would be in her own interest that she reconciles with what is in store for her. The party has given a lot to these leaders and they have to be grateful for that. Nevertheless, they too have contributed to the best of their abilities and have strengthened the BJP in various areas. For every party to remain relevant, it is extremely important to groom younger leadership. The Congress is suffering because it has no replacement for many of its seniors since no emphasis was made in the past two decades to build the organization and produce new leadership. Gone are the days when leaders would alight from Helicopters, wave at the crowds and secure votes. Modi and Shah have changed all that and their brand of politics is what the BJP would be attempting to replicate in States. What needs to be understood by the Sangh Parivar is that bringing in new people is a natural phenomenon, but identifying leaders and foisting them, is something which may not work in the long run. Therefore, whenever the choices are finalized for these States, care must be taken to ensure that the impression of leadership being thrust is not there. Having non-descript persons as the CMs is also not a good policy as the Chief Ministers are in more ways than one, the faces of their respective regions. When the BJP replaced Prem Kumar Dhumal with Jairam Thakur in Himachal Pradesh as the principal leader and Yeddyurappa with Basavaraj Bommai in Karnataka, the consequences were there for everyone to see. Modi and Shah are astute and perceptive politicians who have acquired the expertise in winning the battles, both within the party and against its major opponents outside. Therefore, they shall never reach hurried conclusions.