Bhopal: Not long ago, political circles were abuzz with BJP top brass sidelining Shivraj Singh Chouhan aka 'Mama' and looking for his replacement as Chief Minister in case the saffron party won the Assembly election in Madhya Pradesh. The party even fielded sitting Ministers and MPs in the crucial polls dropping all hints that Mama was not in the reckoning for the top post.
But weeks later as the party appeared headed towards a big win in the key Hindi hearland state, Shivraj Singh Chouhan is back with a bang stealing all the show. By making multiple public appearances as early trends started coming in, he in a way asserted his unshakable position in MP politics.
Suddenly, narratives such as voter fatigue and anti-incumbency against Chouhan are out from political debates and discussion. And why not? Mama has proved his mettle. Despite apparent attempts to corner him, he has had the last laugh.
Born on March 5, 1959, Chouhan is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, who began his public life by joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1972 at the tender age of 13.
Cutting his teeth in student politics, In 1975, he became the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s Joint Minister, and a year later, participated in the underground movement against the Emergency and was briefly incarcerated.
In 1977, Chouhan became the ABVP’s Minister (Organisation) and State General Secretary three years afterward. Chouhan was made state Joint Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in 1984 and its General Secretary the following year. In 1988, he assumed the mantle of Yuva Morcha state head.
The year 1990 saw him ente the Assembly’s portal as the representative from Budhni and the very next year he became a Lok Sabha Member from Vidisha plus Convenor of the All India Kesariya Vahini.
In 1992, Chouhan became All India Janata Yuva Morcha General Secretary and was also appointed BJP state General Secretary. In 1996, he was re-elected from Vidisha to the 11th Lok Sabha. The following year, he was bestowed the responsibility of BJP state General Secretary.
In 1999, Chouhan was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha, again from Vidisha; in 2000 he became BJYM President; in 2005 BJP state head and in 2019 BJP Vice President.
He was re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 with a margin exceeding 2.6 lakh.
On November 30, 2005; Chouhan was chosen to become the MP Chief Minister. He successfully contested a by-election from Budhni the following year. On December 12, 2008; he was sworn in for his second term and on December 8, 2013 for a third term. On March 23, 2020; he took oath for the fourth time as Chief Minister.
A seasoned politician with his ears to the ground, Mama’ Chouhan has scripted a record by winning the assembly election again. With this he has not only further consolidated his position in state politics but also placed himself in the top league for a central role in BJP's national politics.
The latest trend shows BJP is heading towards landslide victory in MP and crossing the 160 mark in the 230-seat assembly. (UNI)