All speculation over the next chief minister of Himachal Pradesh came to rest Sunday with the BJP announcing five-time legislator Jairam Thakur as the party's next leaderin the legislative assembly.
The swearing-in ceremony for the BJP leader will take place on December 27. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the ceremony.
BJP delegation met Himachal Pradesh governor Acharya Dev Vrat and staked claim to form Government in the state. Jairam Thakur says "swearing in ceremony to take place on 27th December, PM to attend" pic.twitter.com/bjvLu2TXJO — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017
Thakur is thought of as a"strong"leader -- he won his fifth straight assembly election from the Seraj seat this time, and theBJP won nine out of 10 seats in the region.
Jairam Thakur to be the Legislature party leader in Himachal Pradesh: Narendra Singh Tomar, Central Observer pic.twitter.com/q319dmgOzl — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2017
The announcement was made at the BJP's legislative party meet in Shimla today.
The meeting was attended by union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Narendra Singh Tomar and state party in-charge Mangal Pandey.
Thakur was a minister in the previous BJP government and was state unit president between 2006-2009.
Thakur is considered close to JP Nadda and hence enjoys thesupport of the top BJP leadership.
The BJP wrested power from the Congress in the recent Himachal Pradesh elections, securing a simple majority by winning 44 seats in the 68-member assembly.