Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets Amit Shah with Tomar by his side

BHOPAL: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was in New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon to meet newly inducted BJP national president Amit Shah. Speaking to newspersons in the capital, Chouhan said it was a courtesy visit to congratulate Shah on his appointment as BJP national president. Party sources said Chouhan also discussed the nomination of a new state BJP chief for Madhya Pradesh.The present BJP president for the state, Narendra Singh Tomar, who was appointed as Union minister for steels and mines, is finding it difficult to manage both his duties as a Union minister and the state party president.
Narendra Singh Tomar is known to be extremely close to chief minister Chouhan. As Tomar shifted base to New Delhi after being appointed a cabinet minister in the Narendra Modi government, the chief minister was on the watch-out for a new state unit president who would be suitable for him especially with guns trained on him in the alleged Vyapam Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board scam.
Sources in the BJP said that Chouhan went to meet Amit Shah with Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday and recommended the name of Lok Sabha MP from Khandwa seat, Nandkumar Singh Chouhan for the coveted post. However, there were two other names being considered- BJP's tribal face and sitting MP from Mandla, Faggan Singh Kulaste and Chouhan's minister for labour, Antar Singh Arya. A senior state leader said that Chouhan seemingly showed more interest in Nandkumar Singh Chouhan.
"Nandkumar Singh Chouhan may have been recommended by the chief minister and Narendra Singh Tomar but the final call depends on Amit Shah," a senior state leader explained. "There is one viable problem with the nomination of Nandkumar Singh Chouhan. The state BJP cannot have a chief minister called Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the party unit chief who is also Nandkumar Singh Chouhan. Two Chouhans cannot hold the realm of BJP in Madhya Pradesh," he added.
Most leaders in the state BJP said it is very difficult to speculate who would be the next state party president because Amit Shah being close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi would also like to consult him before finalizing a name. "The changes in the BJP are evident to all. No decision will be taken without the consultation of Prime Minister," the source explained.