Race for Rajasthan CM: Vasundhara Raje, Mahant Balak Nath, CP Joshi, Gajendra Shekhawat among top contenders. Full list
Narendra Modi. Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Mahant Balak Nath, who emerged victorious from the Tijara assembly constituency on Sunday, Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi and Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat are said to be among the top contenders for the chief minister's chair, news agency ANI reported quoting sources. Vasundhara Raje, a two-time former chief minister, secured a fresh term in the House from the Jhalrapatan constituency in Jhalawar, winning by a margin of 53,193 votes and garnering a total of 1,38,831 votes.
She prevailed over Congress candidate Ramlal, who got 85,638 votes. Spiritual leader and Alwar MP Mahant Balaknath, who defeated Congress candidate Imran Khan by a margin of 6,173 votes in the Tijara assembly constituency. Another rising leader Diya Kumari, who won the Vidhyadhar Nagar seat on a BJP ticket, trouncing Sitaram Agarwal of the Congress by a margin of 71,368 votes, is also seen as a strong CM contender.
The Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency is situated in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan. CP Joshi, a two-time Lok Sabha member from Chittorgarh since 2014, who heads the BJP's state unit currently, is also seen as a dark horse for the CM post. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who was elected as a member of the Lok Sabha from Jodhpur, is also seen as a strong contender to become chief minister.
Shekhawat has been representing Jodhpur in the Lower House since 2014. The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Rajendra Rathore, was also seen as a probable CM contender going into the elections. However, he lost to Congress candidate Narendra Budania by a margin of 10,345 votes.
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