CM Shivraj clarifies stand as absence sparks rumours

New Delhi/Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s return from Gandhinagar, without attending the swearing-in ceremony of Vijay Rupani and his council of ministers on Tuesday, gave rise to speculations of a possible change of guard in the state where elections are due next year. After rumours started gaining ground, Mr Chouhan clarified through that he had personally wished both Mr Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel in Gandhinagar but because of pre-scheduled programmes in his state, which were clashing with the oath taking ceremony, he took permission from party president Amit Shah to return back. Mr Chouhan tweeted about this along with a photograph of him with Mr Rupani and Mr Patel. Mr Chouhan’s programmes were in the two Assembly constituencies where bypolls are scheduled.

The Twitter handle of chief minister’s office had also tweeted about Mr Chouhan’s programmes which he had attended. It could be recalled here that Mr Shah had announced in August this year that the BJP will contest the coming assembly elections in the state under Mr Chouhan’s leadership.

When asked about his early departure from Gandhinagar, Mr Chouhan who was in Guna, said “I have informed BJP national president Amit Shah of my scheduled programmes in Madhya Pradesh before leaving. I have two important events in Kolaras and Mungawali in Madhya Pradesh.” Bypolls are scheduled in Kolaras and Mungawali Assembly constituencies, where the programmes were scheduled. After losing Chitrakoot Assembly bypolls in November, the coming bypolls have become a battle of prestige for the the ruling BJP. BJP state spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal said the chief minister’s events were pre-planned.