The former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan has appeared more gracious in defeat than Kamal Nath in victory. After the results of MP state assembly elections were announced, he gracefully accepted the defeat and avoided playing dirty politics around the defeat like blaming EVMs etc. After the results, he is touring across the state to boost the morale of the BJP workers ahead of crucial 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He has also increased his visibility and now frequently interacting with common people of the state. Shivraj Singh Chouhan has updated his Twitter bio, which now reads, “The Common Man of Madhya Pradesh.”
Former CM of MP is increasing people to people contact, he is moving as a common man, and revitalizing his party. In the last couple of days, he has been seen travelling in a train and using other public transport, celebrating a birthday on road with supporters and riding as a pillion rider to reach his destination.
According to the Economic Times report, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a village in his constituency said, “Mama bahut yaad ayega… par afsos mat karna kyunki Tiger abhi zinda hai. ” (You will miss Mama a lot, but don’t regret as Tiger is still alive).
Shivraj Singh Chouhan knows very well that the recent defeat in the state assembly elections is in no way a rejection of his persona, the very thin margin of defeat after the 13 years of anti-incumbency is a testimony to this fact. If we observe the data more closely, out of total 3.77 crore votes that were polled in the elections, the BJP was able to bag 41%, while 40.9% went in the favour of the Congress party. In fact, BJP got 47,824 more votes than the Congress party still the former was not able to get the mandate.
For more details: 4,337 votes cost BJP the state of Madhya Pradesh
Shivraj Singh Chouhan is very well aware of that fact that his popularity has not deteriorated in the state, and his still the most popular leader in the state. His popularity in PM crosses all the caste and class barriers. The massive crowd support and grand welcome that he is receiving everywhere in the state is a testimony to the fact.
श्री @ChouhanShivraj का ग्राम अमिलिहा के नागरिकों ने पूरे उत्साह के साथ स्वागत किया। जनता को संबोधित करते हुए श्री चौहान ने पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री भारत रत्न अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी की जयंती पर पुष्पांजलि अर्पित कर श्रद्धांजलि दी। pic.twitter.com/zAD64bkbPN
— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) December 25, 2018
अनूपपुर के जैतहरी में नागरिकों ने श्री @ChouhanShivraj का असीम आत्मीयता, स्नेह और आशीर्वाद के साथ अभूतपूर्व स्वागत किया। pic.twitter.com/2oGzs2jk3r
— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) December 25, 2018
ग्राम पाली, उमरिया में नागरिकों द्वारा श्री @ChouhanShivraj का आत्मीय स्वागत। pic.twitter.com/0VoU8wh0Ez
— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) December 25, 2018
लोढ़ा में आदिवासी भाई-बहनों के बीच पहुंचे श्री @ChouhanShivraj ने सभी से भेंट की। इसी दौरान श्री चौहान ने ढोल बजाकर उनका उत्साहवर्धन भी किया। pic.twitter.com/qwFCg9gFET
— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) December 25, 2018
श्री @ChouhanShivraj का कटनी जिले के विलायतकला ग्राम में नागरिकों ने आत्मीय स्वागत किया। इस दौरान श्री चौहान ने पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री भारत रत्न अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित कर अपने विचार साझा किए। pic.twitter.com/zuVdibQ2Qs
— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) December 25, 2018
आज सीहोर जिले के ग्राम आमडोह आप लोगों से मिलने मोटरसाइकिल से कार्यकर्ताओं के साथ पहुंचा और अपने विचार साझा किए। हम हर सुख-दुख में आपके साथ हैं और आपके हितों के लिए जरूरत पड़ने पर संघर्ष करेंगे। आपके हितों से कोई समझौता नहीं होने दिया जाएगा। pic.twitter.com/hdHNZZ8uQk
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (मोदी का परिवार ) (@ChouhanShivraj) December 23, 2018
सीहोर जिले के ग्राम बनियागाँव में आप लोगों ने जो आत्मीय स्वागत किया है, मेरे लिए अविस्मरणीय पल हैं, मन अभिभूत और आनंदित है। आप सभी का हृदय से आभार। धन्यवाद। pic.twitter.com/7zTeppoimZ
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (मोदी का परिवार ) (@ChouhanShivraj) December 23, 2018
Former CM is more popular in Madhya Pradesh than the incumbent CM of the state. While Kamal Nath has been on the backfoot from the very first day of assuming the office owing to a number of controversies which he generated because of his nonsense remarks and controversial administrative decisions, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the other hand has garnered lots of positive media coverage. He took a bold stand on Kamal Nath’s divisive rhetoric against people of UP and Bihar. Chouhan’s stance was hailed as one of true statesmanship exactly the opposite of Kamal Nath. Chouhan also said that he will fight in order to ensure that his schemes are not shut down by the new government or crop prices fixed by him as CM are paid in full. The Economic Times has quoted him saying, “Ab ladai ka toh mein champion hun (I’m a champion of fighting for your cause).”
He is trying his level best to gain the confidence of people of the state again ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and so far has been an incredible success in his pursuit.