Live: Manoj Sinha Leads UP CM Race, Trivendra Rawat in Uttarakhand

• The newly-elected lawmakers of the BJP are likely to meet at 3 pm on Friday to decide the next CM of Uttarakhand
  
• In Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh Rawat, National Secretary of the party, could be the party’s choice to lead the state
  
• Three-time MP, Manoj Sinha, is now the top contender for the UP CM’s seat
  
• After Maurya’s virtual elimination, Rajnath Singh rules out the return to state politics
  
• BJP President Amit Shah virtually rules out Keshav Prasad Maurya from the race for UP CM on Thursday
  

The oath ceremony of the new Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister will be held on 19 March at Smriti Upwan, Lucknow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah will be present at the ceremony.

Manoj Sinha Front Runner in Race to Become Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister

With UP BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya being ruled out, the names in the fray to become the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh are Home Minister Rajanth Singh and Manoj Sinha.

Sources told CNN News18 that Sinha could actually be a front runner because he does not have enemies.

He also enjoys the confidence of both Amit Shah and Narendra Modi, the report added quoting sources.

While BJP leaders Trivendra Singh Rawat and Prakash Pant are said to be the front runners in the race for Uttarakhand CM, The Indian Express quoted sources as saying that Rawat has been picked to lead the state.

The 56-year-old Rawat was informed about his appointment on Thursday, the publication said.

Rawat represents the Doiwala assembly constituency and is known to be close to party president Amit Shah. He is currently in charge of the BJP’s Jharkhand unit and was with the RSS from 1983 to 2002.

Also Read: Who Will the BJP Pick to Be the Next CM of Uttarakhand?

The newly elected lawmakers of the BJP are likely to meet at 3 pm on Friday to elect the next Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.

BJP chief Amit Shah has named two central observers – Saroj Pandey and Narendra Tomar – to oversee the election of the new legislature party leader.

Hectic preparations are underway in Dehradun for the swearing-in of the new government on 18 March, officials said.

While the names of the new chief minister and ministers are yet to be declared, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Ajay Bhatt has informed that the oath-taking for the new ministers has been scheduled for 3 pm on 18 March.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, along with select ministers from the Union government and central office bearers, are likely to be present at the oath-taking ceremony.