MOHAN YADAV'S RELIANCE ON BUREAUCRATS INCREASES

On 11 December last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had secured what many termed as a surprise victory in Madhya Pradesh by winning 163 of the total 230 assembly seats.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

It was all but sure that one from Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Prahlad Singh Patel, Narendra Tomar, VD Sharma or Kailash Vijayvargiya,, the 'big' leader from the state will take oath as the new Chief Minister.

At around 4:30p.m. on December 11, a group picture of all the newly elected MLAs was taken at the party's headquarters in Bhopal. Along with the MLAs, present in the picture were BJP's central observers: then Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, party's OBC Morcha chief K. Lakshman, national secretary Asha Lakra, and State Joint General Secretary (Organization) Hitanand Sharma.

Sitting in the third row, unaware of what was to happen in the next hour, and behind Sharma, was Mohan Yadav, a third-time MLA from Ujjain South, giving his trademark suppressed smile.

One hour later, contrary to media reports, speculations, and educated guesses-after the MLAs had given their recommendations for the leader, with some reports suggesting that Chauhan had received the most votes-it was announced that the new Chief Minister of the state would be Yadav.

One year after Yadav took the oath as Chief Minister, he has begun to carve out his own identity while attempting to fill the large shoes of his predecessor, Chouhan.