Shivraj Singh Chauhan: The Enigma of Madhya Pradesh Politics

The liability is him. Additionally, he is the strength. The Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duopoly is unable to understand the mystery that is Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

In the lead-up to the Madhya Pradesh elections, there were overt indications that efforts were being made to totally sideline Shivraj; nevertheless, the central leadership of the BJP quickly realized that no other leader could guide the party through this turbulent period.

The plan hatched by the strategists failed to gain traction on the ground, and the MPs and central ministers sent in as potential replacements were quickly reduced to little more than reinforcement.

At one point in the BJP's campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his group of central leaders—Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Kailash Vijayvargiya, Rakesh Singh, Ganesh Singh, Uday Pratap Singh, and Reeti Pathak—became the center of attention, making Shivraj appear unnecessary.

Political rumors suggested that Shivraj would not run for chief minister again after the election, and all of them were considered as possible candidates.

However, this hypothesis quickly crumbled when the candidates insisted on having just Shivraj as a campaigner, while all these so-called "big leaders" became entrenched in their respective areas.

Shivraj has been the front-runner for the chief minister position even though the BJP hasn't officially announced him as the nominee. He speaks at eight to ten public gatherings every day.

With 125 constituencies already covered, he has solidified his reputation as a lovable "Mama" whose popularity among the populace has endured despite the strong anti-incumbency sentiment that has resulted from his 18 years in office.

Unquestionably, the Congress has mounted a strong defense against "Shivraj's misrule," which is characterized by many frauds and broken pledges.

Shivraj and his family have been accused of corruption in a number of areas, including illegal mining, the Vyapam and procurement frauds, and several other recruiting irregularities. These accusations have tainted his record.

After the unexplained murders linked to the Vyapam fraud, he went by the nickname "Shav-raj," yet he survived and even managed to face his adversaries with a look of wounded innocence.

When Shivraj saw a youngster at a public gathering on Sunday, he made a joke, asking, "When does a child come to hear a political speech? Observe how he is yelling, "Mama, Mama." Ahre mere bhanje, my nephew, come on over. My life is you. I refuse to let your future be destroyed.

Shivraj is now proposing to create model schools that even kings and queens would wish to send their children to, after wasting eighteen years.

What is my budget for a single school building? At every meeting, he brags about his wealth of "Rs 40 crore," showing no regret for the appalling conditions in healthcare and education.

The highest unemployment rate is in Madhya Pradesh. With his unique power, however, Shivraj is still able to present himself as the poor man's Messiah.

Even though the Ladli Behna plan, which provides underprivileged women with a monthly allowance of Rs 1,200, is mostly seen as a pre-election ploy, he has a great deal of popularity among women. Additionally, he is the BJP's only OBC chief minister.

However, why has Modi-Shah chosen not to run for chief minister once more? They are aware that while the BJP has managed to hold onto its core support base, tiredness has set in and an anti-Shivraj vote has steadily grown over time.

A more thorough examination, nevertheless, indicates that Shivraj cannot be held solely responsible for the issue.

The public are more incensed about the rates of LPG, gasoline, and diesel as well as the agricultural problem, even if Shivraj is seen as corrupt due to the recent scandals involving the Mahakal Corridor and the appointment of patwaris. These issues have their roots in the Modi administration.

Ritik Jadaphiya, a young Banjara man, summed up the atmosphere in the communities.

"People are divided over Shivraj. "What has he done? He's given women money, he's given marriage financial assistance, and he's used bulldozers to demolish houses," he remarked.

While some individuals are content with this culture of handouts, others want for genuine advancement—that is, decent healthcare, education, and administration. On that front, Shivraj has fallen short.

A middle-aged man named Raju Yadav is furious about the demise of small and medium-sized businesses, which has resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs.

What choices does a young person have after their education is over? "Open a restaurant or launch a battery-powered rickshaw," he said.

"We used to hear stories about our lads and girls landing employment. The employment market has been wrecked by Modi and Shivraj. You may get employment if you have Rs 20–30 lakh to bribe politicians and high-ranking bureaucrats.

The Congress is not automatically the winner, despite the public's outrage. Some people believe that Shivraj is the only one who has answers. This feeling has compelled Modi and Shah to change their approach and allow "Mama" to do his best to turn the situation around.