scorecardresearch
Friday, March 29, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomePoliticsSadhna Singh Chouhan, the 'half chief minister' of Madhya Pradesh

Sadhna Singh Chouhan, the ‘half chief minister’ of Madhya Pradesh

Follow Us :
Text Size:

From handling Chouhan’s constituency to being ‘involved’ in the administration, Sadhna does it all, but not without her share of controversies.

Budhni/Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Popularly known as ‘bhabhi’, she is described as a “grounded, humble” person by those in her husband’s constituency, “controversial” by the opposition Congress, the “strength behind her husband” by loyal party workers and a “very clever lady” by senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh.

Call her whatever you want, but the fact is Sadhna Singh Chouhan, wife of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has established herself as a power centre in the state, juggling both political and administrative affairs, with a personality that displays a curious combination of enigma and earthiness.

The chief minister, although a popular leader in the state, is fighting a daunting election on 28 November, scrambling to beat a three-term anti-incumbency.

These three terms, however, have not just seen Chouhan cement his own position in the state with his typical brand of politics, but also a “phenomenal rise” in the power Sadhna wields.

From handling Chouhan’s constituency, to travelling with him almost everywhere and being involved in the administration, Sadhna is known to do it all but not without her share of controversies.

‘The clever woman’

Sadhna, now well ensconced in the politics of Madhya Pradesh, although without an official position, is actually from Gondia in Maharashtra. She married Chouhan in 1992 but remained on the fringes until he became chief minister in 2005.

In 2006, she came into the limelight as she actively campaigned for her husband in his constituency Budhni in the bypolls. And she has not looked back since.

“She is a very clever woman. She is so actively involved in politics from behind the scenes. Woh aadhi mukhyamantri hai (she is half Chief Minister),” said a very senior BJP leader in the state, who has seen her journey closely, but did not wish to be identified.

“She travels with her husband everywhere, across the state. She has nearly replaced the karyakarta (party worker) as far as he is concerned in terms of being around all the time to help him,” the leader said.

“No CM’s wife does that. She keeps a close watch on whom he meets, the decisions he takes and those close to him.

“But she does not have political ambitions of her own in terms of mass politics. It is her son Kartikey whom they are grooming and who visits his father’s constituency often,” said the veteran.

Sources said she has “learned the art of management very effectively” in the last decade.


Also read: The tribals of MP have the power to swing elections. Not much else


‘Power behind the throne’

As Chouhan allows only a small group of aides and civil servants in his close circle, Sadhna has cultivated a group of senior IAS officers — some of whom are in the CMs secretariat — as her trusted loyalists. She is believed to get her foot into the government through these officers, sources said.

The senior BJP leader said she “closely oversees transfers of officials.” She is also believed to have “a say in the projects the government takes up or rejects”.

“The power behind the throne,” is how a highly placed source in the BJP in Delhi described her.

“She is the access point to the CM, considering he anyway operates within such a small trust zone. If anyone wants to get anything done, bhabhi is whom they approach,” said the source who wished to remain anonymous.

While ticket distribution remains a party affair, Sadhna has managed a position where she influences “around 3-4 tickets,” BJP sources said.

For instance, the BJP candidate from Vidisha, Mukesh Tandon, has been a close friend of Chouhan since at least 1991. However, sources said Sadhna — who has also been close to Tandon given he was a family confidant — lobbied for a ticket for him in the assembly elections and managed to get one.

“Shivraj lets her have her way always. No two ways there,” said the BJP source in Delhi.

Ironically, Sadhna’s brother, Sanjay Singh Masani, joined the Congress ahead of polls as he was denied a ticket, a move she herself weighed in on. While some in the BJP said the decision was taken because Masani would have been a liability — his name came up in the 2013 Vyapam scam — others said the Chouhans wanted to have their own in the Congress in case the BJP lost.

Budhni’s ‘bhabhi’

Sadhna maintains a low profile in the media and is not known to entertain them. She is reportedly a bit of an enigma even in political circles, allowing very few to get close to her. This, however, is in sharp contrast to her image in Budhni.

Budhni in Sehore district — Chouhan’s own bastion — is causing a bit of a headache for the chief minister with the Congress fielding a strong candidate in OBC leader Arun Yadav.

However, Sadhna has been handling the constituency during the election season, visiting it ever-so-often. She is as well known a face in Budhni as Chouhan, always by his side when he visits the area and sometimes, even taking charge when he has other commitments.

Election in Madhya Pradesh are scheduled for 28 November

BJP workers there described her as the “strength behind” the chief minister.

“The CM had declared earlier that he wouldn’t campaign in his constituency after elections are announced. He has an entire state to look after,” said Satish Gupta, BJP’s city president in Budhni.

“He leaves it to bhabhi, who takes charge along with karyakartas like us as well as their son. It is she who is handling this,” added Gupta.

Voters, meanwhile, look at her as down to earth and approachable.

“Sadhna bhabhi has done a lot for us. She always visits us and treats us like equals. She does not behave like the wife of a CM,” said Rakhi Batra, a voter in the constituency.

“She came just two days ago. She comes here and meets people at the dharamshala, where those who want to talk to her about something gather,” added Batra.

Sharda Sharma, another voter, said, “She has a very nice and down to earth nature. She always visits us, specially on Narmada Jayanti.”

“She has helped us a lot. Recently, she helped us financially during my daughter’s marriage,” added Sharma.


Also read: By demonising RSS in Madhya Pradesh, Congress is only helping BJP


The controversies

Powerful in the government and in her husband’s politics, Sadhna’s journey in the last decade, however, has been defined by controversies, often causing embarrassment to the party.

The ‘Dumper Scam’ of 2007 found Chouhan’s wife at the centre of it. It was alleged that Sadhna was involved in irregularities in purchase of four dumpers which were rented to a cement factory. The Chouhans later received a clean chit on this front.

Soon enough, another controversy erupted when she was accused of undervaluing a warehouse she owned.

Her name also figured in the Vyapam Scam, alleged irregularities in various admission and job recruitment examinations conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board. However, nothing could be proven against her in the scam that first came to light in July 2013.

Even so, the allegations gave adequate fodder to the Congress to take on the CM.

“She is controversial and that often helps us,” said a Congress leader in Bhopal on condition of anonymity.

Those in BJP who have observed her closely, however, believe that while she “earlier got rattled about these allegations, like during the dumper scam, she has now learnt the art of managing the negative publicity.”

‘Just an ideal Bharatiya naari’

Lokendra Parashar, the BJP media-in-charge for Madhya Pradesh, however, said Sadhna is “not really active in politics” and defended her against allegations of interference.

“Sadhna ji is not really active in politics. But Shivraj ji works for 20-21 hours a day and she is his source of energy, much like an ideal bharatiya naari (Indian woman),” he told ThePrint.

“She takes care of the smallest of his needs, his food, wellbeing etc, like an Indian wife does. She takes care of meals, tea etc of his staff, and those who come to meet him. That is the role she plays.

“Politically, her role is currently limited to taking care of his constituency between the filing of his nomination and polling since that is the time when he does not go there. Other than that, she has no role.”

Parashar said Sadhna doesn’t interfere in government in any manner.

“There can’t be a bigger lie than the allegation that she interferes in administration, transfers etc. Her name is wrongly dragged into scams by the Congress, which is actually the party whose politics is based on scams. Those who have falsely accused her have been taken to court for defaming her,” he added.

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

2 COMMENTS

  1. Subject: An Application for implementation of case no. 1210/B-121, 2017-18 on decision date 20.01.2019 & case no. 135/B-121 on order date 02.01.2020 by commissioner (Arbitrator).
    Respected Sir,
    In refrence to the subject, I am Shankar Prasad Mishra, S/O Surya Prasad Mishra. There are 0.020 hectares area affected in National Highway No. 7 but I received the compensation of only 0.002 hectares and the remaining compensation of 0.018 hectares has not given yet. Whereas front and back area of affected land was acquired in National Highway and middle of the land was left by clerical error. In relation to which the Land Acquisition Officer constituted a team for site inspection as directed by Commissioner (Arbitrator) and the report presented on 18.11.2016. and again inspection done on 23.12.2019 in front of Divisional Manager of MPRDC and investigated report presented. After which Order has passed.
    Land Acquisition Officer written a Letter no.37 for taking an important action related to the publication on 01.06.2018 and Divisional Manager written a Letter no.0967 to determine the Compensation by Purchasing Policy with mutual consent. In which the Order issued by the Land Acquisition Officer with duly report and also cheque issued with co-signature. But all the process still pending and for that I also appealed in Civil Court.
    Therefore, In thematic Mr. Shankar Prasad Mishra is a Poor farmer whose land has been already named as Madhay Pradesh Road Highway. that’s why it is very important to give the compensation. So please take the Action accordingly,
    Thanking You. Faithfully Shankar Prasad Mishra

  2. Better half will take the worse half with her and vice versa and both halfs will water plants at home after elections.

    It is just destiny I guess, if one gets a super egoistic or super ambitious member in the family. Apparently it becomes impossible to shake them off. Another such duo was Indira and Sanjay Gandhi.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular