“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.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is facing a tough election next month, knows that he has to improve his vote margin from last time. Sadhna Singh admitted as much when she spoke to the women volunteers. “Last time kami reh gayi thi votes mein,” she said.
Sadhna also wants to play on the fact that many in Rehti village and Budhni municipality are unhappy at what most feel is the sidelining of Shivraj. The uncertainty over whether he would be the chief minister in case the BJP wins can be countered by a good performance and a large margin of victory to show to Delhi that he matters in MP politics.
As the
BJP aggressively woos the female electorate not just in Madhya Pradesh but nationwide for the 2024 general elections, Shivraj is fighting for his place in the sun by ensuring that the constituency that has stuck by him for 17 years, brings good fortune along with some luck from the women of the state.
But eyeing the result is Congress’s “Sankat Mochan,”
Vikram Mastal —television’s Hanuman, who will take on the chief minister.
“I am a bhakt of the party. Sita Maiya was saved by Hanuman and Ram. The voters will be the Sankat Mochan, especially the women, who are Adi Shakti,” he said. “The Congress has always given importance to women. We have had Indira, Sonia, and Priyanka Gandhi.”
As India prays to Ma Shakti and Durga during the Navratras, both Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Vikram Mastal are hoping for divine blessings.
This article first appeared on News18.com here. 
