bjp: Choosing chief ministers: Maximising Modi BJP
The traditional aspect of 'rewarding' key players has become less of an SOP since a relatively unknown outside Gorakhpur was selected ex-post by BJP as Uttar Pradesh CM in 2017. In effect, BJP's choice of CMs has been about signalling - aligned to both the broader aspect of firming up Brand Modi BJP, as well as the narrower tinkerings of identity politics.
Source: indiatimes.com