oppn parties Chhattisgarh: Tribal Leader Vishnu Deo Sai Is The Surprise Pick As Chief Minister

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Chhattisgarh: Tribal Leader Vishnu Deo Sai Is The Surprise Pick As Chief Minister

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2023-12-10 23:40:39

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

The BJP sprang a surprise in naming tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai as the chief minister of Chhattisgarh (although it is being reported that a hint was available in the remark of home minister Amit Shah who had said that if the BJP won in the state, Sai would be made a 'bada aadmi' or big man). His name was not doing the rounds among the hopefuls. The frontrunners in the state were former chief minister and BJP stalwart Raman Singh, Union minister Renuka Singh and Arun Sao.

But Vishnu Deo Sai emerged as the dark horse. He was primarily selected because as a tribal leader, he was seen to have played a vital role in the success of BJP's tribal outreach in the state. The tribal belt of Chhattisgarh has always been dominated by the Congress. The grand old party had been winning almost all seats from Bastar and Surguja regions. But in a reversal of fortunes this time, the BJP won all 14 seats in Surguja and 8 out of 12 seats in Bastar. The party must have felt that with the tribals wholeheartedly switching loyalties, it was time to anoint a tribal as chief minister.

The decision would not have been easy for the party as tribals comprise only 32 percent of the population and are outnumbered by the OBCs who are the largest group. At any other time, the party would have gone for an OBC chief minister. But the support of the tribals tilted the scale in Sai's favour. It also helped that he is close to Raman Singh (who, incidentally, is likely to be named as the Speaker of the assembly) and is favoured by the RSS. Sai will reportedly have two deputies - state BJP chief  Arun Sao, an OBC and Vijay Sharma, a Brahmin, to complete the caste equation.

Sai has already staked claim for forming the government and governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan promptly invited him to form the government. No date has been fixed for the swearing-in yet. Sai said his first duty was to fulfill promises made under 'Modi ki guarantee' and he announced that 18 lakh houses will be constructed for the poor on priority basis. 

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