Polls over, race for CMs begins

After the BJP’s thumping victory in Uttar Pradesh, all eyes are on Narendra Modi for his choice of chief minister in the politically crucial state. The saffron party’s Uttarakhand unit is also abuzz with probable names for the top post as the BJP has won a clear majority in the hill state.

The BJP parliamentary board is expected to meet today to appoint central observers who will oversee the legislature party in each state to elect its leader.

While the Congress has emerged as the single largest party in Goa, the BJP is hopeful of retaining power. Sources said it is in touch with some smaller parties to reach the magic mark.

Among the names that have been doing the rounds for the UP chief minister’s post is state unit chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and Lucknow mayor and party’s Gujarat in-charge Dinesh Sharma. Names of some Union ministers from the state, including Uma Bharti and Mahesh Sharma, are also doing the rounds. There is still a growing demand for Union home minister Rajnath Singh to be the chief minister of UP.

Supporters of Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath have been lobbying for him. Speculation is rife that despite all these names, the party leadership may

Continued from Page 1 go in for a “dark horse”.

In Goa, where the BJP’s outgoing chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar lost his constituency, names of two Union ministers, including defence minister Manohar Parrikar and Sripad Naik, have been doing the rounds, if the party manages to retain power.

In Uttarakhand, senior leaders Satpal Maharaj and Trivendra Rawat are among the probable names for the top post.

The Uttarakhand unit is also abuzz with murmurs that the party could appoint a “new face” to head its government in the hill state.