Madhya Pradesh election 2023: BJP mobilises CM's wife to woo female voters

“I know some of you have some complaints. But don’t worry, I promise you, when Saheb becomes CM again, he will fulfil them. Fight the Congress as you would to save your izzat.” Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s wife Sadhna Singh gave this assurance to a restless audience, largely consisting of women, as she inaugurated a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Rehti village, which falls in Sehore district. As the CM fights a strong anti-incumbency sentiment, he banks on his wife and the women of Madhya Pradesh to bail him out.

It’s clear that “Mamaji”, as Shivraj Singh Chouhan is called, is banking on women’s votes as he remains their favourite in the state. The Ladli Behna scheme with its promise of sending money directly into the accounts of women as well as providing subsidised LPG cylinders has been a big hit. But as the Congress aggressively woos the female electorate, Chouhan knows this may not be enough.

The idea of an all-women party office is to use female cadres and volunteers as the main campaigners for the CM. When News18 spoke to them, one of these women said, “How do you know Kamal Nath will deliver what he promised? He couldn’t save his own government and you think he can save us?” The others concurred.