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“My vote is for Shivraj Bhaiyya…I just got this month’s instalment of Rs 1,250 from the chief minister this morning,” she says.
This one scheme has penetrated the rural areas of the state and seems to be blunting the apparent ‘tiredness’ that people have developed for Chouhan who, at 64, is doing 9-10 rallies a day now, campaigning the most amongst BJP leaders. From Bhopal to Indore, Jabalpur to Gwalior, Morena, and Budhni — News18 travelled in Madhya Pradesh and asked the question — Are the people in the state tired of Chouhan who has been the chief minister since 2006?
“Aadmi Ache Hain, Par Hum Ab Bas Unse Thak Gaye. Par Mahilayen ab bhi Mama ke saath hain (Shivraj is a good man, but we are tired of him now. Women are still with him),” said a group of men in Jabalpur’s rural area. About 50 kilometres away, an RSS functionary who had come with his family for boating in Bedaghat told News18 that the BJP would not have needed to work so hard in this election if they had made it clear months ago that they wouldn’t project Chouhan as the next CM face. “BJP has now made the election tight by fighting in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name and may cross the mark ultimately,” he said.
However, speak to women voters across the state and they still seem to be fond of Mama Shivraj. The BJP’s top leadership seems to have received such feedback too. Earlier this week, Home Minister Amit Shah, while campaigning near Gwalior, said if Congress comes to power, it will stop the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana’ started by Chouhan. PM Modi also invoked ‘Mama Shivraj’ in his recent rally in MP. “The BJP realises it cannot ignore Chouhan if it has to win MP,” a minister close to the CM told News18.
Why Ignore a Hard-Working Shivraj?
Munching on fast food at Indore’s famous 56 Dukaan Street, a group of youngsters say the BJP should come to power again but they want a new chief minister. “We have only seen Shivraj as CM since we were born,” they say.
But this is quickly countered by a group of elderly men who say there is no better alternative than Chouhan for the BJP. Another family says the election is “very tight” because people are tired of Chouhan. “That was a factor in 2018 also when the BJP lost,” they say.
In Chouhan’s stronghold of Budhni, from where he is contesting for the sixth time, locals say it is his work that makes him a CM contender. “We have heard that he will not be made CM by the party. But in our opinion, whoever works well for the people should become chief minister. Chouhan has worked well for the party, we do not see any opposition to him,” say locals at the famous Narmada Ghat in Budhni. “There should be no fatigue with Chouhan. Since he became CM, people came to know how a chief minister should be,” the locals add.
At Chouhan’s election office in Budhni, his supporters say he will be the chief minister if BJP wins. “If he has to become CM, what is the need to say it? He has been CM and will remain CM. There is no need for a new face. The BJP MPs have been put up in a fight as a different strategy. No one is tired of his face, in fact, one gets enthusiasm by meeting him. The youth here in Budhni are campaigning for him despite no one telling them. We don’t even want Chouhan to come and campaign here as we will ensure his win by a record margin,” the supporters say.
An elderly person here said “Shivraj has Narmada mata ka aashirvaad” and one does not get tired ever of seeing a person like him. “If a father runs the house and becomes a bit old, it does not mean you will throw out the father,” the person said. Another local joined in and said there can be no better CM than Chouhan. “We got no electricity in Digvijaya Singh’s time and there were such long cuts. Mama transformed it. Women are happy with Mama,” he said.
Besides the monthly pay-out for women, what still works for Chouhan in areas like Indore is the safety of women. “The BJP should come. In BJP rule, Narendra Modi and Shivraj Singh Chouhan have empowered women and made them safe. Women come to 56 Dukaan Street even late without fear. Roads are now good, there are no potholes. We are not tired of Mamaji,” says a shop owner selling coconut crush in Indore.
Some were not impressed with Mama
However, some in Budhni are not satisfied with Chouhan. “No one can satisfy everyone, but he has done well… The Ladli Behana Yojana has been good. But people feel there is a lot of unemployment and the youth are becoming distressed. Chouhan has not done much on that,” a local priest said.
In Indore too, News18 found many people far more fond of the prime minister than Chouhan. “BJP is strong here. Modi wave is always there. Kamal Nath has been saying since years that he will be the chief minister but woh aa nahi rahe hain. BJP should win, it is best to have the same government in Centre and states,” a group of locals in Indore’s 56 Dukaan street said.
Another bunch of families said: “No one can work better than Mamaji but it is the party’s option as to who they make the CM. We will vote surely for Modi. In 2024, Modi should become PM again.”
Another person said: “A King (Modi) is always a King” and said it is Modi’s push in the last nine years that has put MP on the progress path. Most people, however, agree that this time, the election is quite tight and the BJP is facing tough opposition. “We can’t say who will win ultimately, it is a 50-50 election,” a local in Indore said. He said it was the pro-woman image of Chouhan that may prove to be a difference.
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