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Former minister Gulab Chand Kataria appears to be one of strong contenders who may succeed former chief minister Vasundhara Raje as the new opposition leader of Rajasthan assembly.
The other ministers who have been suggested by the state unit for the post include former ministers Ghanshyam Tiwari and Narpat Singh Rajvi. BJP central leadership wants, Vasundhara Raje, who currently holds the post to step down.
The central leadership and the state unit feel that Kataria would be the ideal choice.
The other name who seems to be a strong challenger for the post is Rao Rajendra Singh.
"Rajendra Singh seems to be a compromise candidate for both factions," said a party insider. "He has a clean image and is young."
The BJP, after its defeat in the April-May Lok Sabha election, is passing through a major upheaval.
The BJP won only four seats out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan - a shocking fall from the 21 it won in 2004.
BJP president Rajnath Singh asked Vasundhara Raje to quit nearly a month ago. She was to do so on Aug 31 after a short session of the assembly.
Despite the BJP central leadership's determination to see her go, Vasundhara Raje is believed to enjoy the support of at least 59 of the 78 legislators of the party in the state assembly of 200.
