Bhajan Lal Sharma takes oath as Rajasthan chief minister

Bhajan Lal Sharma was officially sworn in as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan in a grand ceremony held in Jaipur. 

The event was graced by the presence of several high-profile political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, and various union ministers and chief ministers from different states.

Bhajan Lal Sharma, a political newcomer in terms of legislative experience, has been elected for the first time as an MLA from the Sanganer Assembly constituency in the recent 2023 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election. 

Despite being a fresh face in the assembly, Sharma is no stranger to the workings of his party, having served four times as the State General Secretary for the BJP. His long-standing service to the party and his close ties with the RSS and its chief, JP Nadda, have marked him as a significant figure within the party ranks.

The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by Governor Kalraj Mishra at the iconic Albert Hall, where a large crowd gathered to witness the historic moment. 

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Alongside Sharma, Divya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa were also sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers of Rajasthan, indicating a strategic move towards a broader regional spread of different communities and castes within the state's leadership.

This change in leadership marks the end of a 25-year-old trend in Rajasthan politics, which had previously seen only Congress leader Ashok Gehlot and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje alternating in power. 

The BJP's decision to appoint Sharma, along with other new faces in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, reflects a deliberate strategy to consolidate support ahead of the upcoming 2024 elections.

The selection of Bhajan Lal Sharma as Chief Minister came as a surprise to many, following secretive deliberations within the party. It signifies the BJP's intent to rejuvenate its leadership with fresh faces, moving away from established political figures like Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan. 

Sharma's appointment was announced during a BJP legislature party meeting, which was attended by the party's central observers Rajnath Singh, Saroj Pandey, and Vinod Tawde.

As Bhajan Lal Sharma takes on the mantle of Chief Minister, he brings with him a promise of new leadership and direction for the state of Rajasthan, with the eyes of the nation watching closely as he begins his tenure.