The Bharatiya Janata Party appointed central observers to three states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh – on Thursday, to elect the legislature party leaders there.

While Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and party vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe will be sent as observers to Madhya Pradesh, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the party’s another vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna will be the observers in Rajasthan. 

For Chhattisgarh, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot and party general secretary Anil Jain will be observers.

Sources suggest that the leadership may select new faces as Leader of Opposition in these three states, but former chief ministers will continue to play key roles in the party’s organisations in the run-up to the crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The decision was made at a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board, the highest decision-making body of the party. 

It was the first such meet after the party lost the Assembly elections in five states. 

After the meeting, senior party leader and Union minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda said the dates for the legislature party meetings in the states will be decided later.

Sources said the parliamentary board also deliberated upon the current political situation and BJP’s strategy for 2019 general elections, but the appointment of observers was the main agenda.

BJP will hold its crucial national council meeting in Delhi on January 11, which will be attended by all ranks and files of the party.