• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Sat, 27 Apr 2024 06:12 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently indicated that former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and veteran BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan might be entrusted with a crucial responsibility in the national political scenario, saying that he wants to "take him to Delhi (Centre)". Chouhan, who holds the distinction of being the longest-serving chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, has been fielded from the Vidisha Lok Sabha seat for the ongoing general polls.

Speaking at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Harda on April 24, PM Modi lauded Chouhan reminiscing about the days the two leaders served together in the party organisation and as chief ministers. "When Shivraj went to Parliament, I was working together as general secretary of the party. Now I want to take him with me (to Delhi) once again," the Prime Minister said while addressing the rally, news agency PTI reported.

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Chouhan, who served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for a little below 17 years from 2005 to 2023 over four non-continuous terms, was surprisingly replaced by Mohan Yadav for the post following the BJP's victory in the Assembly polls held in the state last year. Chouhan has previously represented Vidisha in the Lok Sabha as its MP four times between 1992 and 2004.

The seat has also had late former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, late former Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and noted newspaper publisher Ramnath Goenka as its Lok Sabha MPs in the past. Following the BJP's declaration of his candidature from Vidisha, a party stronghold, Chouhan said the constituency was handed over to him by Vajpayee and it was heartening that he was given a chance to become its parliamentary representative again after 20 years.

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"The BJP is my mother, who has given me everything," Chouhan had said at the time. Notably, it was Vajpayee's resignation as Vidisha's MP that resulted in Chouhan being fielded as the BJP's candidate in the 1992 by-polls and subsequently being elected from the seat.

(With inputs from PTI)