Chhattisgarh: Arun Sao, Vijay Sharma Named Deputy CMs. Raman Singh To Become Assembly Speaker

While Vishnu Deo Sai takes the helm as Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister, Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma will step into the roles of Deputy Chief Minister. Meanwhile, former CM Raman Singh will be made the assembly Speaker.

File Photo of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh with BJP Chhattisgarh State President Arun Sao.

Source : PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday named Vishnu Deo Sai as the Chief Ministerial candidate for Chhattisgarh. Besides this, the BJP has chosen Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma as Deputy Chief Ministers for the state while former chief minister Raman Singh will be made the assembly Speaker. The announcement for the selection of Vishnu Sai, a prominent tribal face, as the leader of the BJP's legislative party was made after a key meeting in Raipur.

Notably, Raman Singh announced Vishnu Deo Sai's name as the next Chhattisgarh CM earlier today.

भाजपा के राष्ट्रीय उपाध्यक्ष एवं राजनांदगांव विधायक @drramansingh जी ने भाजपा विधायक दल के नेता के लिए कुनकुरी विधायक श्री @vishnudsai जी का नाम प्रस्तावित किया। भाजपा प्रदेश अध्यक्ष एवं लोरमी विधायक श्री @ArunSao3 जी एवं रायपुर दक्षिण विधायक श्री @brijmohan_ag जी ने प्रस्ताव का… pic.twitter.com/1Jhl89wEI4

— BJP Chhattisgarh (@BJP4CGState) December 10, 2023

The BJP MLAs, led by Chief Minister-designate Vishnu Deo Sai, presented a letter to the Governor at the Raj Bhavan in Raipur, formally staking claim to form the next government. Senior BJP MLA Brijmohan Agrawal confirmed the development, stating, "We have handed over a letter to the Governor stating that Sai ji has been elected as the legislative party leader", news agency PTI reported.

Vishnu Deo Sai, 59, secured victory in the state elections from the Kunkuri seat in the Surguja division, where the BJP emerged triumphant in all 14 segments. The BJP's three observers—Union ministers Arjun Munda and Sarbananda Sonowal, along with party general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam—were present during the meeting of the newly elected party MLAs.

Om Mathur, BJP's in-charge for Chhattisgarh, Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and party's co-in-charge for the state Nitin Nabin also attended the crucial meeting. The BJP secured 54 out of the total 90 assembly seats in the state, while the Congress, which won 68 seats in 2018, was reduced to 35 seats this time. The Gondwana Gantantra Party managed to win one seat.

The swearing-in ceremony date is yet to be announced, as per Brijmohan Agrawal, who conveyed, "However, the date of the swearing-in ceremony would be informed later", as per PTI.