Deliberations between central observers and newly-elected MLAs failed to reach a consensus, prompting the high command to intervene and decide on Thakur.
New Delhi: The decision to finalise Jai Ram Thakur as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh came from the top, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah giving the go-ahead after approval by the RSS.
The BJP high command decided to finalise Thakur’s name due to his closeness to the RSS, seniority, and a clean and non-controversial image.
His appointment came after a long round of deliberations between party-appointed observers and central ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Narendra Tomar, and the newly-elected MLAs. They failed to reach a consensus.
The observers came back to Delhi and reported the varying views to Shah and the Sangh, who decided on Thakur.
The other main contender for the post of CM was Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, but there was no consensus on his name.
Thakur was then elected chief of the BJP legislature party, after his name had been proposed by senior MLAs.
Factors in Thakur’s favour
A big factor that went in favour of Thakur was that he hails from the influential Rajput community, which is also represented by the BJP’s original CM candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal, who lost the polls from Sujanpur. The central leadership kept the Rajput factor in mind while shortlisting Thakur.
The CM-elect has been a cabinet minister before – during Dhumal’s last tenure in power (2007-12). Sources say Dhumal didn’t object to his name, adding that Thakur is also said to share a good rapport with the other tall leader in the Himachal BJP, Nadda.
Now a five-time MLA and state BJP president, Thakur is armed with a lot of experience in administration and organisation functioning. He was the first choice for the post, but in the end, despite protests by various camps, including supporters of Thakur and Dhumal in the presence of the central observers, Thakur emerged as the consensus choice of the MLAs, the central leadership and the RSS.