BJP picks tribal leader Vishnu Deo Sai as Chhattisgarh CM
Prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union minister Vishnu Deo Sai has reportedly been named the new chief minister of Chhattisgarh. The announcement came following a meeting of the party legislators in Raipur on Sunday. An influential tribal leader, Sai has previously served in several top positions, including as the party's former state chief. He is also a BJP National Executive member.
Sai's appointment confirmed on X
Sai close to former CM Raman Singh
With this development, speculations around the CM candidate in one of the three states the BJP won in the recent assembly elections ended. Reportedly, Sai is close to former CM Raman Singh, the BJP's most prominent leader in the state, who was seen as a top contender for the post. Sai has been a member of the BJP National Executive since December last year.
More about tribal leader Sai
Sai (59) began his political career as a village sarpanch and rose through the ranks to become the minister of state for mines and steel ministries in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet in 2014. In the recently concluded assembly elections, he won from Kunkuri in northern Chhattisgarh. Sai belongs to the powerful Sahu (Teli) community, which has a considerable presence in several Chhattisgarh districts.
Will work with honesty under PM Modi's guarantee: Sai
Soon after he was named the CM, Sai vowed to work with honesty for "Sabka Vishwas" (everyone's trust) under PM Modi's guarantee. "As a CM of the state, we will try to fulfill the promises," he said, pledging housing to 18 lakh people.
What Sai said after being named chief minister
Sai picked days after BJP appointed observers
Sai's appointment came days after the BJP appointed three observers, including Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Arjun Munda and General Secretary Dushyant Gautam, to pick Chhattisgarh's CM. Notably, besides former CM Singh, state BJP chief Arun Kumar Sao, Dharamlal Kaushik, and ex-administrator OP Chaudhary were the top contenders. However, the party eventually picked Sai, given his tribal background and influence in tribal areas.
BJP also announces 2 deputy CMs, assembly speaker
On Sunday, the BJP also announced that Chhattisgarh will have two deputy chief ministers. Sao, who belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, and Vijay Sharma, a Brahmin leader, have been named as Sai's deputies to strike a balanced caste equation in the state. Former CM Singh, meanwhile, has been appointed the speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
