Madhya Pradesh political circles abuzz after Shivraj Singh Chouhan's twin remarks

Two recent statements by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have sparked discussions over potential tensions within the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, placing renewed pressure on incumbent Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

The Incidents

Mr. Chouhan, who now serves as the Union Agriculture Minister, openly criticized the State government over the demolition of houses belonging to 12 tribal families and the destruction of their crops at Kosmi village in Vidisha. The eviction drive happened despite his earlier intervention. In a separate event in Raisen, Mr. Chouhan spoke about the State's Ladli Behna scheme, which gives eligible women a monthly allowance of fifteen hundred rupees. He stated that the Chief Minister has kept the scheme going and that every future government must do so, adding a warning that angry women spell trouble. This followed Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's recent remark calling the scheme an expensive affair, while also touching upon a desired future hike to three thousand rupees.

Reactions and Fallout

Political observers and BJP insiders view the timing and tone of these remarks as a calculated move to support rising resentment against Mr. Yadav. Following Mr. Chouhan's support for the tribals of Kosmi, his son Kartikeya Singh Chouhan also joined their sit-in protest. A senior anonymous BJP leader noted that Mr. Chouhan is aware of the power dynamics and recent rumors of friction between the Chief Minister and State BJP president Hemant Khandelwal. Meanwhile, senior journalist Rashid Kidwai remarked that Mr. Chouhan aims to protect his legacy and stay relevant in State politics while growing his national stature. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav responded by stating that an inquiry would be ordered into the Kosmi eviction drive to clear the air. On the other side, State Congress chief Jitu Patwari alleged that the incident reflects an open conflict and power tussle among BJP leaders.

Context

Internal political friction often surfaces in ruling parties when a leader steps down from a long tenure and a successor takes charge among many senior heavyweights. Schemes launched by popular former Chief Ministers frequently remain sensitive political touchpoints for their successors and voter bases.