The first year of the CM Bhajan Lal Sharma has been quite successful despite the challenges he faced. Based on his performance and key decisions, Bhajan Lal Sharma has outshone the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the first year.
A year ago, the BJP high command had made a bold move by appointing entirely new faces as Chief Ministers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. This decision sparked mixed reactions across the country. However, the most surprising choice came from Rajasthan, where the BJP selected Bhajan Lal Sharma, a first-time MLA who rose from ordinary party worker to Chief Minister.
In contrast, Mohan Yadav in Madhya Pradesh and Vishnu Deo Sai in Chhattisgarh had prior government experience—Yadav had served as a minister in Madhya Pradesh, while Vishnudev had been a central minister.
Bhajan Lal Sharma, however, was the first Chief Minister in recent history to be appointed directly from the party organization. After one year, the BJP high command conducted a review of the work of these three Chief Ministers.
According to sources, Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma’s performance has been more effective compared to his counterparts. While both the CMs in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh worked hard, Sharma stood out by effectively tackling challenges without prior experience, proving himself to be a strong leader. The BJP high command had made a bold decision to give fresh faces the opportunity to lead in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, rather than reappoint veteran leaders like Vasundhara Raje, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, and Raman Singh.
The Sangh supported this move entirely, backing Bhajan Lal Sharma, Mohan Yadav, and Vishnudev Sai. This support led veteran leaders in these states to quickly accept the new decisions. Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan took on a new role as the Union Agriculture Minister in Delhi, while Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh accepted the position of Speaker. In Rajasthan, former CM Vasundhara Raje was offered a position in Delhi but chose not to contest the Lok Sabha elections, remaining as the National Vice President in the party organization.
The murmurs began after the Lok Sabha results, as the party fell short of the expected number of seats in the state, leading to various speculations. One such rumor suggested that Vasundhara Raje might be made the national president. However, victories in Maharashtra and Haryana shifted the narrative. In Rajasthan, the party performed exceptionally well in the by-elections, which proved to be a turning point for CM Bhajan Lal Sharma.
His success in the by-polls boosted his confidence, as well as that of the high command. Having earned their trust, Sharma silenced his critics by making bold decisions. Whether it was the Rising Rajasthan Investment Summit or the move to cancel 9 districts created during the Congress era, these decisions helped solidify Sharma’s strong image as Chief Minister in Delhi.
While many senior leaders in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh had already taken on their responsibilities, Bhajan Lal Sharma faced numerous challenges in Rajasthan. He had to manage the expectations of former CM Vasundhara Raje’s supporters, while also balancing the demands of prominent leaders in Delhi. Additionally, some ministers in the government were eager for the CM’s position. It can be said that Sharma’s challenges were greater than those faced by his counterparts. However, in the high command’s review, Sharma’s performance was considered more effective. He managed to curb the bureaucracy, listened to party workers and MLAs, and even made efforts to reach out to former CM Raje when the opportunity arose.
According to sources, Vasundhara Raje was offered the position of Governor during a recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma in Delhi. However, Raje reportedly declined the offer. Despite this, her supporters continue to hope that she will be appointed as the national president. The future role the high command assigns to Raje remains to be seen. The party is expected to appoint a new national president by the end of this month, and a new executive committee is likely to be formed in February. Additionally, a reshuffle in the Union Cabinet could take place during the budget session holidays.
