‘Will Miss…’: Chouhan’s Speech Amid Suspense Over BJP CM Face Draws Reactions From MP Cong

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan became emotional during a function on his home turf of Budhni in Sehore district, telling the women in attendance that they would never receive a “brother” like him and would miss him when he will not be around, news agency PTI reported. Chouhan had became emotional during an event last week in Khargone, saying he had no desire for any position and would be delighted if his “flesh and bones could be of use to people.”

Speaking at an event in Ladkul in his Assembly seat Budhni, CM Chouhan stated: “Meri behno, aisa bhaiya tumhe milega nahi. Jab main chala jaunga, tab tumhe yaad aaunga (sisters, you will not find a brother like this. When I leave, you will miss me).”

भावुक हुए CM शिवराज, ‘ऐसा भैया मिलेगा नहीं, जब चला जाऊंगा, तब याद आऊंगा’https://t.co/smwhXUROiK@romanaisarkhan | @brajeshabpnews#MPElection2023 #CMShivrajSinghChouhan #BJP #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/rZa3eJk7Iw

— ABP News (@ABPNews) October 2, 2023

Assembly polls are scheduled to be conducted at the end of the year in the state.

His attempts to strike an emotional connection with the audience with such utterances come at a time when there is debate over whether he would be the state’s chief minister if the BJP wins.

His name was not included in the BJP’s initial two lists of 78 candidates for the 2018 elections.

In addition to Union Ministers Narendra Sinmgh Tomar, Prahlad Patel, and Faggan Singh Kulaste, as well as Indore strongman Kailash Vijayvargiya, the 78 people on the list are all political heavyweights and hopefuls for the chief minister’s job.

Responding, MP Congress president Kamal Nath stated that Chouhan will be remembered for his “lies and (false) announcements.”

Chouhan’s words, according to Nath’s colleague and former MP Congress president Arun Yadav, signal that the BJP would be booted out of power in the upcoming elections.

“I have heard his statement. This shows the BJP government is going to get voted out,” Yadav, a former Union minister, asserted.

Chouhan has asserted in numerous recent speeches that he governs a family, not a government.

When asked if Chouhan will be the party’s chief ministerial face during a news conference in August, Union Home Minister and senior party strategist Amit Shah questioned the media on why it was performing the “party’s work (choosing persons for posts)”.

Shah went on to say that during election season, it was critical to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s development initiatives to the voters.

Rasheed Kidwai, a senior journalist and political pundit, believes Chouhan’s remarks at Ladkul signal that his days as CM are limited.

“There is no plausible explanation for his exit because the BJP has been talking about the Shivraj model and crediting the (state government’s) Ladli Behna scheme (in which more than a crore eligible women get Rs 1,250 per month) as a game changer,” Kidwai was quoted by PTI in its report.

Chouhan had also stated during his speech at Ladkul that he has redefined the concept of politics in MP.

“I have changed the definition of politics in Madhya Pradesh. You have seen Congress rule for years. Have you ever seen them caring for the public,” Chouhan had asked the gathering.

Chouhan has been CM since 2005, with a brief interruption between December 2018 and March 2020 when Kamal Nath led a Congress administration.

The MP election timetable has not yet been announced.

During his visit here earlier this month, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stated that the final voters’ list for the MP election will be issued on October 5.

The Congress gained 114 seats in the 230-member Assembly in the 2018 elections, allowing it to establish a coalition government. The BJP won 109 of the 109 seats.