Himachal CM: Jairam Thakur, who has won the Seraj constituency in Mandi district five times, said he was thankful towards the party for the responsibility.
Five-time MLA Jairam Thakur is all set to be the next Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Thakur was elected as the state legislature party chief on Sunday after a meeting between the party’s central observers and newly-elected MLAs and other party leaders in Shimla.
BJP’s earlier choice for the post of CM, Prem Kumar Dhumal had proposed Thakur’s name and it was supported by Union Minister J P Nadda.
“Former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal proposed Jairam Thakur to be elected as the Legislature party leader. Shanta Kumar and JP Nadda also supported this proposal,” Tomar said while addressing the media.
Dhumal lost the Sujanpur seat in the recently concluded assembly elections which hurt his chances of returning as chief minister.
Thakur, who has won the Seraj constituency in Mandi district five times, said he was thankful for the responsibility the party has entrusted to him. “I thank everyone — central leadership, Prem Kumar Dhumal ji who proposed my name supported by JP Nadda, Shanta Kumar ji.”
The 52-year-old leader also enjoys a strong backing of the RSS and a section of Himachal BJP MLAs. He has been a part of Dhumal’s cabinet in the past and has worked as the president of the BJP state unit.
Thakur’s elevation is significant since it marks a shift in the state politics which has lived under the successive administrations of Congress’s Virbhadra Singh and BJP’s Dhumal.
Dhumal’s supporters had been pushing his name for the CM’s post after BJP swept to power in the state. However, a day before the meeting, Dhumal opted out of the race. “I had made it amply clear on the day of results that I was not in the CM race. To elect any person as CM is entirely the prerogative of the party’s central leadership,” the former CM said.
The BJP defeated the Congress in the assembly elections by winning 44 out of the 68 seats.
