Finally ending all debate, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced that former Union Minister Vishnudeo Sai, its tribal face, will be the new President of the party in Chhattisgarh -- for the third time.
A statement from Arun Singh, General Secretary and Headquarter In-charge, said: "BJP national President J.P. Nadda has appointed Vishnudeo Sai, former Union Minister of State, as the Chhattisgarh BJP President.”
Vishnudeo Sai first led the party from 2006 to 2009 and his tenure was extended till 2013. He has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Raigarh four times (1999-2014).
He became the Union Minister of State for Mines and Steel on November 9, 2014 under Modi 1.0 government. On July 5, 2016, he was given charge of the Ministry of Steel. On becoming a central Minister, he resigned as the Chhattisgarh BJP chief.
Dharamlal Kaushik then took charge of the party in Chhattisgarh. But after he was made the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, he put down his papers. Vikram Usendi succeeded him.
Since the BJP's organizational elections in 2019, talks had been on that the party deserved a new chief.
Sai is seen as the tribal face of the BJP, whose other tribal leaders have receded into the background.
