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BJP bets big on 'Chaiwala', gives ticket for Raigarh mayoral seat

The New Indian Express Kochi

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January 28, 2025

THE Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 46-year-old Jeevardhan Chauhan, a tea-seller by occupation, as its candidate for the reserved Scheduled Caste (SC) mayoral seat in the upcoming elections for Raigarh Municipal Corporation in Chhattisgarh.

- EJAZ KAISER @ Raipur

The decision is believed to be a strategic move, leveraging the popular "Chaiwala" narrative associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who once sold tea at a railway station in Vadnagar.

Chauhan, a senior party worker with 29 years of experience in the BJP, continues to run his tea stall despite holding various positions within the party in Raigarh, including serving as an alderman.

His candidacy has drawn widespread attention, with BJP leaders highlighting it as a testament to the party's inclusivity and connection with the common people.

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