The era of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Madhya Pradesh’s long-standing Chief Minister, has drawn to a close. Chouhan, who held the position for nearly two decades, recently posted a cryptic message, “Sabhi ko Ram Ram (`Ram Ram’ to all)” on X, triggering speculations regarding his future plans. The BJP made a significant announcement on Monday, appointing Mohan Yadav, a three-time MLA from Ujjain, as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, replacing Chouhan.

Despite being the state’s longest-serving Chief Minister, Chouhan consistently maintained that he wasn’t contending for the top role and was willing to accept any assignment delegated by the party’s high command. Following the assembly election victory, he expressed his primary goal of ensuring the BJP’s sweep of all 29 Lok Sabha seats in the forthcoming elections, forgoing a visit to Delhi and focusing efforts in Chindwara, a constituency where the BJP hadn’t clinched any seats.

The BJP secured a resounding victory in the recent assembly elections, capturing 163 seats with a notable 48.6% vote share. Meanwhile, the Congress, aiming for a return to power after losing due to defections, managed only 66 seats in the 230-member assembly, with a vote share of 40.4%.

Earlier today, the party’s three central observers—Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, OBC Morcha head K Laxman, and secretary Asha Lakra—held discussions with Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Madhya Pradesh marks the second state where the BJP has chosen a new leadership. In Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, a prominent tribal leader, was named the next Chief Minister. This decision overlooked former Chief Minister Raman Singh, who led the BJP government for three consecutive terms. The BJP strategically pivoted to a fresh leadership approach in anticipation of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In Chhattisgarh’s recent elections, the BJP secured 54 out of 90 assembly seats, diminishing the Congress’s count to 35.

Mohan Yadav’s History

As for Mohan Yadav, his political journey saw him elected as MLA for Ujjain Dakshin’s seat in 2013 and re-elected in the 2018 Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. Additionally, on July 2, 2020, he assumed office as a cabinet minister in the Madhya Pradesh Government under Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s leadership.

Also Read: Mohan Yadav: New Chief Minister Of Madhya Pradesh