Bhopal : The departing chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, gave his farewell speech on Wednesday, the eve of the swearing-in ceremony for the state’s incoming chief minister, Mohan Yadav, and his two deputy chief ministers, Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda.
Many supporters, mostly women, gathered at his official residence to say goodbye to the state’s longest-serving chief minister.
Many of the supporters were seen wiping away their tears, causing emotional scenes to be witnessed.
As many of the women told him that they had voted in order to make him the Chief Minister again, Chouhan tried to console them saying, “It’s not the end.”
This remark created a buzz because the people present there took it as a signal that even though Chouhan did not get the top job he was not leaving politics and might be back at the helm again in future.
Political observers also believe that Chouhan will bounce back soon enough.
Before meeting his supporters, Chouhan addressed a press conference and was asked why he did not visit Delhi after the BJP registered a landslide victory on December 3. Responding to that question Chouhan said, “One thing I say with great humility, that I would rather die than go and ask for something for myself. That’s not my job. That’s why I had said that I will not go to Delhi.”
The departing chief minister went on to call speculation that he would run in the Lok Sabha elections “a figment of people’s imagination,” adding that he would respect the party’s decision and be dedicated to a bigger cause.
In response to a question about whether the BJP had treated him unfairly by denying him a fifth term as chief minister, Chouhan stated that the party had given him the position for eighteen years.
“The BJP appointed a common worker as chief minister for eighteen years. Nobody looks at the other angle. I owe the BJP a debt of gratitude for everything I have received; it is now time to pay it forward. Why is this not the way that you think? He continued.
Remarkably, the BJP selected the three-time MLA from the Ujjain South Assembly seat to be the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh on Monday.
“I am confident that the BJP Government will complete the ongoing projects in the state under the leadership of CM Mohan Yadav,” Chouhan said, congratulating Yadav on his appointment to the top job. Madhya Pradesh’s development and progress will reach unprecedented heights. I’ll continue to back him.
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