Lok Sabha Election / Shivraj Singh can play a big role in Delhi, discussion intensifies after PM Modi hints

Lok Sabha Election: Madhya Pradesh's longest serving CM and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chauhan is likely to play an important role in national politics. PM Modi had recently said in an election rally that he wants to take him to Delhi (Centre). Let us tell you that Chauhan, who was the Chief Minister of the state from 2005 to 2023, is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from his stronghold Vidisha. This constituency is an ancient city situated on the Bhopal-Delhi rail route.

Chauhan is contesting against Congress's Pratap Bhanu Sharma, who had won the seat in 1980 and 1984. These were the only two elections the Congress had won in this constituency since it came into existence in 1967. Modi had praised Chouhan at a rally in Harda in the state on April 24, saying that both of them (Modi and Chouhan) have worked together in the party organization and as chief ministers.

Modi had said in the rally, 'When Shivraj went to Parliament, I was working as the party general secretary. Now I want to take him with me (Delhi) once again. Incidentally, Chouhan had reached Vidisha by a Delhi-bound train after announcing his candidature in the Lok Sabha elections. He had led the BJP to a landslide victory in last year's assembly elections, however, in a surprise move the party chose Mohan Yadav as his successor.

Shivraj contesting 6th Lok Sabha elections from Vidisha

Chouhan, who is fondly called 'Mama' and 'Paun Paun wale Bhaiya' in his youth, is contesting his sixth Lok Sabha election from Vidisha. The seat has been represented by BJP leaders like late Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1991) and Sushma Swaraj (2009 and 2014) and newspaper publisher Ramnath Goenka (1971). After the announcement of his name, Chauhan said that this seat was handed over to him by Vajpayee and it is a matter of happiness that he is getting a chance to represent it again after 20 years.

Chauhan had said at that time, 'BJP is my mother, who has given me everything.' After being elected MLA for the first time from his home constituency Budhni, Chauhan was fielded by the BJP in the 1992 Lok Sabha by-election. There was a need to hold this by-election due to the resignation of the then MP Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Chauhan represented this seat five times as an MP till 2004 and then he resigned from this seat and became the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2005.

Rajneesh Aggarwal, a native of Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency and state BJP secretary, said, 'Congress is contesting the elections only as a ritual, so it is not a challenge for us. We will also win at those booths where Congress has traditionally got votes. Our aim is to increase the margin of victory. Shivraj ji himself is reaching every part of this constituency. During the election campaign, Chouhan can be seen with his wife Sadhna Singh, sipping tea and enjoying chaat and samosas while interacting with street vendors. He also makes efforts to reach out to voters, especially women, who form a large part of his support base.

Congress leader targeted

At the same time, Vidisha District President of Congress Mohit Raghuvanshi accused Chauhan of ignoring this parliamentary constituency despite being a local MP and former Chief Minister and said that the BJP leader has not fulfilled the promises. Raghuvanshi said, Chauhan has been the main face of BJP in the state for two decades.

He said that due to the tough challenge presented by the Congress, he has been limited to Vidisha in the campaign. His status has remained that of a local leader. He claimed that Congress candidate Sharma had established educational institutions when he was a two-time MP, that too at a time when there was no provision of Local Area Development Fund for MPs. Senior journalist and political analyst Rashid Kidwai said that the BJP was forced to field Chauhan from this seat under pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Vidisha Lok Sabha seat comprises eight assembly constituencies of Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore and Dewas districts. Bhojpur, Sanchi (SC) and Silwani assembly constituencies are in Raisen district, Vidisha and Basoda in Vidisha district, Budhni and Ichhawar in Sehore district and Khategaon in Dewas district. Of these eight assembly constituencies in Vidisha Lok Sabha seat, seven are currently held by the BJP and Chauhan is representing Budhni.

Swaraj had won this seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections by a margin of 3.90 lakh votes. Earlier, the nomination papers of Congress candidate Rajkumar Patel were rejected on technical grounds. According to a local BJP leader, 80 per cent of the Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency is rural and has a large share of OBC (Other Backward Class) population, with Chauhan's Dhakad-Kirar community making up a sizeable population. Also, 35 percent of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST). Of the 19.38 lakh eligible voters in Vidisha, 10.04 lakh are men and 9.34 lakh are women.