IN THE WAITING ROOM

The BJP has a challenge finding new political roles for its former chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Vasundhara Raje and Raman Singh. Particularly after the party ruled out appointing them as leaders of opposition in their respective states. Chouhan, who has refused to shift to Delhi, is eyeing the president’s chair in the party’s Madhya Pradesh unit, a position he held before becoming chief minister in 2005. But that will mean unseating incumbent Rakesh Singh. Raman Singh is keen to become state BJP chief in Chhattisgarh. The post is held by Dharmlal Kaushik, who was recently appointed leader of the opposition. Raje is keen on a post to be able to strike a hard bargain during ticket distribution for the Lok Sabha election. The BJP’s national council meeting due on January 11 should clear things up.