New Delhi: Two-and-a-half years after Shivraj Singh Chouhan was shifted out of Madhya Pradesh despite winning the state decisively, two prominent Rashtriya Swayamevak Sangh (RSS) ideologues, Ratan Sharda and Seshadri Chari, praised the Union agriculture minister and questioned why he was not being utilised better.
Sharda took to X and praised Chouhan for his handling of the ethanol issue during his latest interaction with farmers, terming him a “grounded warm-hearted communicator”. Chari agreed with Sharda and called Chouhan “one of the best performing CMs”.
The voices gain significance in the backdrop of the Datia bypoll, which the BJP lost, and the criticism the BJP-led central government has faced over its mandatory E20 (20% ethanol-blended) petrol policy.
Chouhan, who has maintained a low profile since being shifted to Delhi and taking over the role of Union minister, met a group of farmers Tuesday. After his interaction with them at Krishi Bhawan, they voiced support for ethanol while Chouhan termed farmers as “god for him” and said the doors of Krishi Bhawan are always open for them.
Very true @RatanSharda55 ji. Even as CM Madhya Pradesh @ChouhanShivraj was one of the best performing CMs. He was very caring, leading the state by example, never allowed any problem to fester, met with all sections of the society. He led the green MP project by personally… https://t.co/clkplNYIli
— Dr. Seshadri Chari (@seshadrichari) August 5, 2026
Sharda then took to X and commented on a post which mentioned Chouhan’s meeting with the farmers. “If only BJP knew how to use a grounded warm-hearted communicator like Shivraj Singh Chouhanji, it could avoid many embarrassments. I wonder why he is not given a wider canvas,” he wrote.
While Sharda praised Chouhan for handling the issue, many within the BJP are also pointing out that although Chouhan was not actively involved in the Datia bypoll and conducted only one rally in Basai, the party had still performed well in that area.
“We won the Basai mandal (almost all the polling booths) where Chouhanji held a rally. Obviously, the responsibility for the mandal was with a BJP worker but it also shows the impact Chouhan still has,” a senior BJP leader told ThePrint.
According to BJP sources, the Datia loss is being felt widely and a meeting was held by MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to fix responsibilities. Not only this, state president Hemant Khandelwal is also facing the heat as it was the first election held under his leadership.
In the backdrop of the ethanol controversy and the bypoll results, Chouhan also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday and, according to sources, discussed a host of issues.
Chari, former editor of “RSS-inspired” Organiser, backed Sharda’s views on social media.
“Very true Ratan Shardaji. Even as CM Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan was one of the best performing CMs. He was very caring, leading the state by example, never allowed any problem to fester, met with all sections of the society,” Chari wrote in reaction to Sharda’s post.
Chari, who has been convener of the foreign policy cell of the BJP, further said that Chouhan had led the green MP project by personally planting a minimum one tree per day for all five years. “He has handled the farmers’ issue and ethanol mix very well,” he added.
Why Chouhan’s needed
The Congress retained the Datia seat with party candidate Ghanshyam Singh defeating BJP’s Ashutosh Tiwari by 6,016 votes.
According to BJP sources, Chouhan’s experience and ability to create consensus are being felt strongly in Madhya Pradesh, especially after the party identified infighting as one of the major reasons behind the Datia loss.
In fact, stung by the bypoll defeat in a state where the BJP has 165 MLAs out of 230, the party dissolved its entire district organisation in Datia, acting on the recommendation of a probe committee constituted to examine the setback.
Under the leadership of Chouhan, the party had in 2023 won 163 seats against the Congress’s 66 in the 230-member state assembly. The former chief minister was credited with the victory but was not made the CM again. He later contested the Lok Sabha polls from Vidisha and became the agriculture minister.
The Datia bypoll was keenly observed because controversy unfolded after the BJP replaced its long-time MLA and senior leader Narottam Mishra, with his supporters voicing their anger openly and even resorting to violence.
The significance of Chouhan is also being stressed at a time when CM Yadav’s handling of the Datia bypoll has come under the scanner. Many within the BJP have been highlighting how Yadav has not been able to keep the flock together.
For the first time after the Datia defeat, a meeting took place between Mishra and Datia candidate Tiwari, following which Mishra slammed the “misleading” and “false statements” which he said were being spread on social media about them.
“The misleading and false narratives circulating on social media regarding me and the BJP candidate, Shri Ashutosh Ji Tiwari, following the Datia by-election are completely baseless,” Mishra wrote on X.
He further said that Tiwari was like a younger brother to him and he has always held, and will continue to hold, feelings of affection and warmth towards him.
“There has never been any bitterness between us, nor is there any today. Even now, we met with the same warmth and sense of kinship as always,” he added.
Mishra further said the fact that “Ashutosh Ji did not express resentment towards any specific individual after the results reflects the respect he holds for all party workers”.
He added that “ups and downs are a part of politics, but family, values, and relationships remain constant”. He also urged his supporters and workers to “refrain from any actions, comments, or behaviour that might harm the party, the organisation, or Ashutosh Ji. Our strength lies in our unity, discipline, and values”.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)