"Mama hi banenge na phirse mukhyamantri?" asked the cab driver who took me to the chief minister's house in Bhopal. Translation: Mama will surely be the chief minister again, right? People call Chouhan mama, maternal uncle.
Inside the house, Chouhan is extremely busy accepting greetings from hordes of party workers and leaders, and meeting media persons on the loop, but, as always, he is cool and composed.
Earlier in the day, Chouhan had visited the busy Nehru Nagar locality in Bhopal to meet his "Ladli Behnas" the common women. He spent quite some time with them, sitting on the ground answering questions, interacting with kids and eating food offered by the women. The bonding was palpable and the message clear he had gone to thank them as he credited women for the BJP's massive win.
He told me that he was confident of a big win because of the reaction of women he had interacted with. Afterwards, Chouhan apologised profusely for being able to give only a short interview. He insisted that I have tea before leaving, even as the next batch of visitors were upon him.
Later that night, Chouhan visited a night shelter, checking the arrangements in view of the cold weather and taking feedback from the occupants. When asked about his bond with the people, he attributed it to his style of functioning: "I did not run a government, I ran a family."
He also said that he has never been a contender for the post of chief minister and that he would undertake whatever responsibility he was given. Excerpts from the interview:
Q/ Many congratulations. What is the biggest factor to which you attribute this win?
Esta historia es de la edición December 17, 2023 de THE WEEK India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 17, 2023 de THE WEEK India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Indira's Bang
How Indira Gandhi secured the borders, ended food import, before going for the test
Who's Afraid Of A New Nuclear Doctrine?
It has been 50 years since Pokhran I. With its capabilities increasing and global power equations changing, does India need to look at reviewing its nuclear doctrine?
I don't think things will change because of the win
When independent filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light scripted history by winning the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, it was not just a proud moment for the film's team, but also a triumph for the collective aspirations of women across the country.
Sid for kids
As a child, Sidhartha Mallya wished he had someone in his life to tell him what he wants to convey in his latest children's book, Sad Glad
Ready to roll
Following the Pokhran tests, India has operationalised a credible deterrent that the nation should be proud of
Breaking nuclear apartheid
How India protected its ability to move ahead with the nuclear weapons programme despite not signing the NPT
Power point
The Pokhran tests launched India's march towards being a full partner and participant in the global nuclear order
Shock and awe
India’s comprehensive capability in the nuclear domain is the result of its autonomous pursuit of the atomic programme against all odds
Spied on none, stole from none
A senior scientist during the Pokhran test in 1974 and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission during the tests in 1998, Dr Rajagopala Chidambaram has been a key figure in the Indian nuclear journey.
Leader with a difference
ARVIND KEJRIWAL'S RETURN TO JAIL APPEARS IMMINENT. BUT HIS BLISTERING POLL CAMPAIGN MAY HAVE BRIGHTENED INDIA BLOC’S PROSPECTS