Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Madhya Pradesh’s former Chief Minister, has received overwhelming support since quitting his post.
Women have rallied behind him, affirming Chouhan’s unique place in people’s consciousness. It wasn’t a surprise, given that his women-centric schemes touched a chord with the masses in MP.
Teary-eyed women hugged him when he reached Vidisha for the first time after the elections, according to reports.
A video of the incident shows Chouhan wiping his tears. The women raised slogans, saying, “Humara neta kaisa ho…Shivraj Bhaiya jaisa ho…bhaiya tum raaj karo…”
When women wept inconsolably, he said, “It is the mission of his life to work for the welfare and respect of the sisters.”
After resigning, Chouhan said he would “rather die” than seek favours from his party. “I wanted to say humbly that I would rather die than go (to Delhi) and ask for something for myself, this is not what I do,” Chouhan was quoted as saying.
Chouhan believes the new BJP government under Mohan Yadav’s will finish ongoing projects quickly.
Where his legacy is concerned, his promise of increasing the stipend under the Ladli Behna Yojana from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month could take some time. He became popular as ‘mama’ and ‘bhai’ to Madhya Pradesh women.
The former CM insisted that women’s empowerment through such schemes wasn’t aimed at increasing his vote bank. “It came from my heart… I saw the plight of daughters and sisters in my village since my childhood. Daughters were killed in the womb, they were born in pain. I started the Ladli Laxmi Yojana…I used to help get daughters married even when I was nothing. I never thought I would become the CM,” he said.
According to reports, CM-elect Yadav has already hinted that his government would continue the good schemes.
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