Jharkhand: BJP leads the race, but who will be its CM?

Ranchi, Dec 21: Exit polls are predicting a BJP government in Jharkhand, but nobody appears to know who will be the next chief minister in the event of a BJP win.

Most exit polls say the Bharatiya Janata Party will secure enough seats in the 81-member house to form a government of its own.

BJP leaders and activists are wondering who Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah will pick as the chief minister - if a BJP victory does take place.

Prominent among those leading the pack of probables are former chief minister Arjun Munda and BJP national vice president Raghubar Das.

Munda, who has held the post thrice, told IANS: "The party will decide my role."

Das spoke on similar lines. "The central leaders will decide."

Experts said Modi's decision may be based on how the party fares in the election. If the BJP secures a majority, Modi may opt for a non-tribal to lead the state.

Some say the two ministers from Jharkhand in Modi's ministry - Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Sudarshan Bhagat and Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha - could also be in the race.

Both Modi and Shah led the BJP's election campaign in the state. Shah campaigned vigorously and addressed more than 20 rallies.

The Jharkhand election result will be known Tuesday.

IANS