Mohan Yadav is new Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister
The BJP has named a surprise pick as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh – Mohan Yadav, 58, a leader from the Yadav OBC community.
OBCs make up more than half of the state’s population but, interestingly, the Yadav community is not among the most influential.
On Monday evening, Yadav was elected as leader of the BJP’s legislative party – 15 days after the party routed the Congress to win Madhya Pradesh.
The outgoing Higher Education Minister, he thanked the BJP, saying, “I am a small party worker… I thank the party for this opportunity.”
“I thank all of you… state and central leadership (and), with your love and support, I will try to fulfil my responsibilities,” Yadav, festooned with garlands, said after the meeting of the MLAs.
Soon after the BJP announcement, Yadav met Governor Mangubhai Patel and staked a claim to form the next government.
In a key move seen as an emphasis on unity, Yadav was nominated by outgoing Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a four-time head of the state government.