In ending the suspense in Rajasthan over the Chief Ministerial race, the BJP has taken many by surprise after naming 56-year-old Bhajan Lal Sharma as the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan. What is more interesting is Sharma is the first-time MLA and he has surpassed the veterans of the party to take over the reign.

Rajasthan is one among the three states that BJP won in the recently-held assembly polls, while the other two being Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. By winning the three crucial states in the Hindi heartland, the BJP central leadership had crafted a fresh political equation of introducing new faces as the Chief Ministers in these three states. 

After appointing new faces in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, with Vishnu Deo Sai and Mohan Yadav respectively, all eyes were on Rajasthan about the predictions of who would win the race. Rajasthan had witnessed a race from the veterans including former Chief Minister Vasundara Raje, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Arjun Ram Meghwal. 

While Vasundhara Raje hoped to hit the jackpot by building support from the newly elected MLAs, all she had was a deep distress as the party's leadership has dislodged her from the race. During the evening hours of Tuesday - December 12, the BJP central observers led by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had met the newly elected MLAs in Jaipur for finalizing the party's pick for the top post.

The BJP, that gave a big surprise in Madhya Pradesh by naming less prominent leader Mohan Yadav as the Chief Minister, has unleashed another round of surprise in Rajasthan by naming Bhajan Lal Sharma as the Chief Minister. Sharma, who won in the recently-held assembly polls from the Sanganer constituency, is all set to enter the assembly as the first-time MLA and as the Chief Minister, which is seen as a rare political honour. 

Sharma belongs to an upper caste in Rajasthan and had an initial association with the ABVP, the student wing of the BJP's parent body RSS. Holding a low profile in the state, Bhajan Lal Sharma has served as the general secretary of the party. It has been reported that BJP has made a safe choice by selecting a Brahmin face and it is also being considered as the party's drive to cover the votes of the forward communities in the upcoming general elections. 

Sharma secured 1,45,162 votes from the Sanganer seat and defeated Congress candidate Pushpendra Bhardwaj. After being named as the Chief Minister-designate, Bhajan Lal Sharma said, "I would like to assure you that all the MLAs of Rajasthan will definitely meet the expectations that the people have with us, with the BJP. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we will ensure holistic development of Rajasthan in all areas."