Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, who was succeeded by Mohan Yadav, reflected on his political journey, likening the transitional period to a phase of "vanvas" or exile while awaiting the eventual "raj tilak" or coronation. Speaking emotionally at a gathering in Shahganj town under his Budhni assembly seat, Chouhan, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, assured the audience that he would remain present among the people, particularly his sisters.
Following the BJP's significant victory in the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls held in November 2023, Mohan Yadav was chosen as the new Chief Minister, replacing Chouhan, who had previously served in the role four times. Chouhan expressed his commitment to stay and serve the community, responding to a plea from women in the audience who urged him not to leave them alone.
Reiterating his dedication to the people, Chouhan affirmed, "I will not go anywhere. I will live here and die here." He assured that the ongoing projects initiated by the previous BJP government, including the Ladli Behna Yojana (for women's welfare), housing schemes linked to the Ladli Behna scheme beneficiaries, a program ensuring one job per family, and commitments to farmers, would be fulfilled by the current government.
Acknowledging the change in leadership, Chouhan remarked, "The new government will take forward all these works. There must be some big objective somewhere, sometimes by the time 'raj tilak' takes place, one even ends up in 'vanvas' (exile). But all this happens to fulfill some or the other objective."
Chouhan emphasized that the present ruling dispensation, being of the BJP, would implement these schemes, distinguishing it from the Congress-led government. He also expressed gratitude for the love shown by the children in the audience, referring to him affectionately as "mama" or maternal uncle.
Upon his arrival in Shahganj, Chouhan received a warm welcome from a large number of BJP workers and women. In the Budhni assembly seat election, Chouhan secured victory with a margin of over 1.04 lakh votes against his Congress rival Vikram Mastal. The BJP's resounding victory in the November 2023 state elections saw the party securing 163 out of 230 assembly seats, maintaining its stronghold in the central state, while the opposition Congress secured 66 assembly segments, and one seat was won by the Bharat Adivasi Party.
