Waiting Game

Despite being sidelined by the high command, Shivraj Singh Chouhan eyes a prominent role in Central politics, with Lok Sabha polls round the corner

- Deepak Tiwari

AT THE DECEMBER 17 ceremony in which Kamal Nath was sworn in as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, one of the star attractions was outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Congress leaders treated Chouhan with elaborate courtesy. The second order Nath signed as chief minister was to allot Chouhan a bungalow set in five acres in the posh Professors Colony in Bhopal. The bungalow, located barely half a kilometre from the chief minister's official residence, was once occupied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Both Nath and senior Congress leader Jyodiraditya Scindia later called on Chouhan at his home.

“Chouhan has achieved his position as a leader who is moderate and acceptable to all,” said political analyst Pravin Dubey. “Compared with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, everybody wants to cultivate relations with him. Chouhan is amiable and gels well even with his rivals.” Dubey said the Congress showed him extraordinary respect to acknowledge the fact that although he lost the elections, Chouhan had fought valiantly. Congress president Rahul Gandhi called him a gentleman.

While his rivals continue to heap praise on Chouhan, the BJP has been reluctant to acknowledge the contributions of the leader who ruled the state for 13 years and brought the saffron party to power in 2008 and 2013. After he lost the assembly polls, Chouhan announced his intention to stay on in Madhya Pradesh and take over as opposition leader. He also wanted to undertake a yatra to thank voters for not rejecting him “completely”. The BJP high command, however, turned down both requests. Chouhan was denied permission to take out the yatra and was not even allowed to nominate an opposition leader of his choice.