Madhya Pradesh BJP stalwart and ex-chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from his home turf Vidisha seat, hit the campaign trail on Thursday, travelling by a train in a second-class coach from Bhopal to reach Ganjbasoda, which is part of his constituency. Known for his down-to-earth approach and mass outreach – which had contributed to his becoming the longest-serving Madhya Pradesh CM involving four terms until December 2023 – Chouhan, 65, has now entered the Lok Sabha poll arena after two decades. He has been a four-time MP from Vidisha, a BJP stronghold, which had been represented by ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1991) and Sushma Swaraj (2009 and 2014). “I have been travelling by train since I was an MP. My heart is full of happiness. I am going to Ganjbasoda, which is my ‘karmabhoomi' (workplace). I have family relations with the people and I am going again there to meet all of them,” Chouhan said on board the sleeper class of Bhopal-Bilaspur train. He was accompanied by his wife Sadhna. Vidisha has remained a traditional BJP bastion for decades, with the Congress having managed to win it only twice (1980 and 1984) since 1967. The Congress is yet to name its candidate from Vidisha for the upcoming polls. Chouhan kicked off his campaign three days ago, when he visited Icchawar where he met party workers, ate the local sweet dish Mawa Bati, and interacted with local people. During his train journey, Chouhan chatted with a child, who sat on his lap, and interacted with the passengers. He also met BJP workers who had gathered in large numbers at Salamatpur, Sanchi, Vidisha, Gulabganj and Ganjbasoda railway stations. At Ganjbasoda, Chouhan was greeted by a huge crowd who gathered in a hall. He bowed down and welcomed the crowd, apologising for the lack of arrangements. "After a long time I have got the opportunity to hug everyone. Those people who couldn't get a selfie don't worry. Many nephews and nieces keep saying 'Mama selfie, selfie'. For five years I will be among you only, why are you worrying," he told the cheering crowd. Chouhan is popularly known as “Mama (maternal uncle)” in the state. As the then CM, Chouhan had spearheaded the BJP's campaign in the November 2023 Assembly elections during which he addressed over 160 rallies. His campaign was based on the plank of his welfare schemes for women, especially the Ladli Behna Yojana, a monthly stipend of Rs 1250, which many believe was an important factor behind the BJP's landslide win in the polls. However, the BJP central leadership replaced Chouhan with three-time Ujjain MLA Mohan Yadav as the CM as it opted for a new face at the helm. Chouhan had become the CM for the first time in 2005 and continued in his post for three terms until December 2018, when the BJP lost to the Kamal Nath-led led Congress. In March 2020, he returned to the CM post after a defection led by Jyotiraditya Scindia brought down the Nath government. Asked about his Lok Sabha candidature after such a long stint as the CM, Chouhan said, "My life is a mission. The aim of life is to work for the nation and public.” During his campaigning, he again showcased the welfare schemes that his government had launched. Addressing a “Ladli Behna gathering” at Ganjbasoda, Chouhan said,"I know, my sisters, how much hardship is in your life. That's why I felt like I should do something that would reduce the difficulties in your life. That's why Ladli Behna Yojana was launched and every sister would get a stipend every month. This Ladli Behna is an attempt to transform your lives. As an MP I will work towards making my sisters Lakhpati behna." Chouhan said that he was confident of a win as he has a "dilon ka rishta” (deep relations) with the people”. He also hit out against the Opposition INDIA bloc, calling it a group that allegedly came together with the common intention of "shielding themselves from going to jail”. On Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which had also crossed Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan said the Congress was decimated in the Assembly polls and that the former's Yatra turned into a “Congress Chhodo Yatra (quit Congress Yatra)”. "He (Rahul) doesn't understand the country, its people, traditions and values. He doesn't know the politics of India and its people. That's why Congress is disintegrating,” Chouhan said. – With PTI inputs
