After the meeting, Yadav placed the plan for sanctuary in parts of the Sehore Forest Division on hold and transferred the Sehore District Forest Officer (DFO).
In remarks at the time, Chouhan cautioned the forest department officials against undertaking such action again. “He clearly told the officials that without due consideration and notice, such action should not be taken. The tribal community forms a major part of the state, and their concerns should be heard,” a BJP functionary told ThePrint.
This was just one of many instances where the former chief minister intervened in matters of the state government. His padyatras, meetings with farmers and tribals, and major announcements aimed at Madhya Pradesh have kept the state’s political circles abuzz.
A section of the state leaders said Chouhan is intervening in such matters since the BJP government in the state is “being run” mostly by officials. One MP BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said, “He (Chouhan) is a seasoned leader. He earlier highlighted some work which needed immediate attention, but not much was done. Through this forest department issue, he has shown that he knows how to get work done if required. This was his way of exerting pressure and getting the job done, which is for public welfare.”
Another section of state BJP leaders questioned the former chief minister’s intervention in state matters.
But a close aide of Chouhan dismissed allegations that he was intervening in the state and said all issues and instances where the former chief minister has been involved have been related to his Lok Sabha constituency of Vidisha.
“Demolition issue related to tribals is part of his constituency. When locals reached out to him, he took it up with the CM. At the same time, Congress was looking for an opportunity to blow up the matter, so his timely intervention helped the government,” said the aide.
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Message to central leadership?
Chouhan was the architect of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s massive victory in the 2023 Assembly elections, but was denied another term as chief minister by the party high command. He served as CM of the state from 2005 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2023
However, even as he carries out his duties as a Union minister, another state leader, asking not to be named, said, Chouhan understands the “pulse” of the state. For instance, had he not intervened in this matter raised by tribals, the issue could have escalated, and the Opposition would have highlighted it.
In May, Chouhan undertook padayatras in his old strongholds of Sehore, Vidisha and Indore, using the opportunity to engage with the local residents and villagers. Earlier, in April, Chouhan, during his visit to Budhni, where a fire had erupted, met the victims, many of whom had been rendered homeless, as well as other villagers.
“When the villagers complained about the water scarcity in the area and how the supply was very erratic, Chouhan lambasted the senior officers and pointed out that while providing water was the responsibility of the state government, it was the officers’ job to ensure it reached every household,” said a BJP functionary who did not wish to be named.
Adding, “Soon after his diktat, things improved in the area.”
The functionary said Chouhan had been “visibly” angry that day. “He stressed the fact that water from the river Narmada is being provided, and the officials should ensure it reaches every household. He asked them to submit a report within seven days.”
In March this year, when Madhya Pradesh minister Jagdish Devda was presenting the budget, Chouhan made a sudden entry into the visitors’ gallery of the Assembly. This prompted CM Yadav to stop the budget address midway and welcome his predecessor.
Even during the DISHA meeting on 23 June, Chouhan had reprimanded officers for inaction.
“During the meeting of his home district, Sehore, he gave strict instructions to stop illegal mining in the Narmada river. Many leaders who were also part of the meeting said Chouhan was visibly angry and gave clear directions to officials to mend their ways,” a party functionary said on condition of anonymity.
During his Indore visit in April too, when a woman complained about not getting the benefits of the Ladli Behna scheme, Chouhan, who was accompanied by state leaders, told them to resolve her issue at the earliest. The former chief minister’s meeting with senior party leader and state minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has also become a topic of discussion.
“The situation in the state is such that every single day, some issue or the other is being raised by the Opposition. If Mohan Yadav had heard the grievances of the tribal protesters and resolved them, or had understood the matter could snowball into such a major controversy, the need for Chouhan to take things in his own hands would not have occurred,” said one of the BJP functionaries quoted earlier.
However, a BJP leader in New Delhi said Chouhan’s continued presence in Madhya Pradesh is being seen as a sign that he wants to maintain his political relevance while preparing himself for any future political role.
“One has to see his continuing interest in the state as a message to the central leadership that he remains a popular state leader,” said another national leader.
Another BJP leader in New Delhi remarked, “The work being carried out under CM Yadav is not necessarily below par, but he is trying to ape Chouhan rather than carving out his own identity. He needs to focus on that and launch some schemes and policies which will reflect his vision.”
According to a BJP functionary, Mohan Yadav “needs to be given more time, and such interventions by senior leaders and ministers send the wrong signal”.
Defending Chouhan’s actions, his close aide quoted above, further said that all the padyatras undertaken by him were a part of the Viksit Bharat scheme. “Under this, the idea is to hold interactions with various stakeholders, whether it is beneficiaries of Ujjwala, the housing scheme, farmers, etc. As part of the yatra, the minister had to halt at various places and engage with stakeholders and highlight the schemes of the Modi government.”
“So those who are saying that he is trying to interfere or intervene in the state government are incorrect,” the aide said, adding that locals naturally reach out to Chauhan owing to his place in the state politics.
He added that during a public programme in June, Chouhan categorically stated that Mohan Yadav is the chief minister. “When he has made such a statement, what more remains to be said? He is a popular leader, and naturally, he is connected to his people and the state.”
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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