New Delhi/Bhopal: “Jab main chala jaunga, tab yaad aaunga (I will be missed when I am gone),” Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan told a gathering of women Sunday, prompting jibes from the Opposition Congress, which termed it a “farewell speech”.
Chouhan’s remarks come at a time when the BJP high command has refused to project him as the party’s CM choice if it retains power, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the face and the election would be fought under collective leadership.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been the CM of Madhya Pradesh for 18 years.
“Aisa bhaiya milega nahi (you will never find a brother like this),” said Chouhan in an address at Ladkui in his home district Sehore, while distributing benefits under the state government’s Mukhyamantri Charan Paduka Yojana (under the scheme, shoes, slippers, water bottles and sarees are being given to pluckers of tendu leaves).
Congress leader Arun Yadav said in a statement to the media that Chouhan’s remarks indicated that the BJP government in the state, which goes to the polls later this year, is on its way out.
“Shivraj bhaiya ki jo paristhiti aaj ki tareek mein hai, usse yeh spasht hota hai ki, unka jaana tai ho raha hai MP mein (the current circumstances of Shivraj Singh Chouhan make it clear that his exit is imminent),” he added. “Woh khud hi keh rahe hain ki mere jaane ke baad aisa bhaiya nahi milega (He is himself saying that you won’t find a brother like me when I am gone).” Congress media coordinator Piyush Babele said Chouhan had announced “his own farewell”. “Definitely, the scams and bad governance will be remembered by all,” he added.
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Sidelined in BJP?
In his address at Sehore, Chouhan said he had “changed the definition of politics in Madhya Pradesh”.
“You all have seen the rule of Congress years. Tell me, was there ever such concern for the public? What used to happen…? I am not running a government, I am running a family…” he added. “You all are my family.”
Chouhan’s speech comes days after the BJP announced its second list of candidates for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, which includes three Union ministers and four other MPs. These include leaders like Narendra Singh Tomar and Prahlad Singh Patel.
Also, unlike 2018, Chouhan was not the only party member who led the BJP’s ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ in Madhya Pradesh from 3 to 21 September.
This time, the party deployed a battery of leaders to ensure that Chouhan is not seen as the face of the rallies, and the image projected is one of collective leadership.
The ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ is a massive public outreach programme of the BJP to showcase its government’s achievements.
These instances have led to speculation that Chouhan is being sidelined by the party.
“Two days back, Chouhan ji had given a statement in Khargone wherein he had pointed out that he had no greed for power and position,” said a senior party leader.
“He had stressed on the fact that he believes in working for the people of Madhya Pradesh and will continue to do so. The way the party announced tickets for MPs and ministers and did not declare him so far has not gone down well with a section of the leaders and workers,” the leader added.
(Edited by Sunanda Ranjan)