Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal leader and former Union Minister, has been designated as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) nominee for the Chief Minister position in Chhattisgarh ahead of the 2024 general elections. Following a week of contemplation, Sai was elected as the leader of the BJP's legislature party during a meeting that included the 54 newly-elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

This decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of having a tribal leader at the helm in Chhattisgarh, where tribal communities constitute 32% of the population, making them the second-largest demographic after the Other Backward Classes. Initially torn between selecting a tribal or an OBC member, the BJP ultimately leaned towards a tribal leader due to its remarkable performance in the tribal regions. The party achieved an unprecedented victory by securing all 14 assembly seats in the tribal-dominated Surguja region and eight out of the 12 seats in Bastar.

At 59 years old, Vishnu Deo Sai enjoys the backing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor of the BJP. Furthermore, his close association with former Chief Minister Raman Singh, a towering figure in the state, adds to his political stature and support within the party.

Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal leader and former Union Minister, has been designated as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) nominee for the Chief Minister position in Chhattisgarh ahead of the 2024 general elections. Following a week of contemplation, Sai was elected as the leader of the BJP's legislature party during a meeting that included the 54 newly-elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

This decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of having a tribal leader at the helm in Chhattisgarh, where tribal communities constitute 32% of the population, making them the second-largest demographic after the Other Backward Classes. Initially torn between selecting a tribal or an OBC member, the BJP ultimately leaned towards a tribal leader due to its remarkable performance in the tribal regions. The party achieved an unprecedented victory by securing all 14 assembly seats in the tribal-dominated Surguja region and eight out of the 12 seats in Bastar.

At 59 years old, Vishnu Deo Sai enjoys the backing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor of the BJP. Furthermore, his close association with former Chief Minister Raman Singh, a towering figure in the state, adds to his political stature and support within the party.