Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has recently changed his style of public interaction, turning more aggressive.
He has started suspending errant government officials, right from the dais; highlighting that corruption and negligence in public service will not be tolerated. These actions are coming especially during the ‘Jan Seva Abhiyan’ (people’s service campaign) camps being held in different districts since September 17 – to mark the birthday of PM Narendra Modi.
Also, rather than standing at the podium to address people, Chouhan has taken to strolling across the dais with the microphone in his hand, seeking instant response and reaction from the people to his populist actions.
The chief minister’s latest action came on Friday when he announced the suspension of the Shivpuri Chief Municipal Officer (CMO) Shailesh Awashi and District Food Officer Naresh Manjhi from the dais, saying that he had got complaints against them from people.
Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Chouhan’s cabinet colleagues Yashodhara Raje Scindia and Mohan Yadav were present.
Chouhan reiterated that while officers working well will be acknowledged and rewarded, corruption and dereliction of duty will not be tolerated.
Chouhan also attacked the Congress and MP Congress Chief Kamal Nath for criticizing his actions (of suspending officials from the dais). “Congress criticizes me, says that CM suspends officers from the dais, and is doing dramatics. Tell me brothers and sisters, shouldn’t I take action against those pilfering funds meant for people?
“We make schemes, send money for the welfare of people; gobbling it up in between will not be allowed. If someone eats food meant for the poor, Mama (as Chouhan is called popularly) will not let them off,” the CM said.
He added in a somewhat derogatory tone, “Kamal Nath yeh teri sarkar nahi, meri sarkar hai, BJP ki sarkar hai. (Kamal Nath, this is not your government, it is my government, it is BJP’s government).”
Chouhan’s retort came on tweets by Nath on Thursday where the latter had said “Drama of suspension is being played in the state. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan indulges in dramatics of suspending employees from the dais, but nothing happens in the documents. He has nothing left to tell the people, tries to find new excuses every day to remain in the media limelight. His frustration is clear. He only knows how to misuse police, administration and money.”
In the past two months, the chief minister has suspended several officials from the dais during his public programmes. During the Mandla and Dindori trip earlier this month, he suspended six officials including the executive engineer of water resources department, sub-divisional officer of Belgaon in Dindori, and civil surgeon of Mandla district hospital. In Betul, he had suspended four officials including the district mining officer, chief medical and health officer (CMHO) and two officers of the electricity department. Earlier, he had suspended a Janpad chief executive officer in Barwani.
Political watchers say that the chief minister, who is already popular among people, wants to further strengthen his public image as a ‘no-nonsense action-oriented leader’ in the run-up to the 2023 Assembly polls. There have been repeated speculations on change of guard in Madhya Pradesh and the spectacular results for BJP in Gujarat where the party had changed the chief minister and the entire cabinet ahead of the polls has turned MP BJP leaders – especially those in government – quite apprehensive.
Chouhan is a four-time chief minister and has been in the post for close to 16 years now. Political watchers feel that he wants to reinvent himself and recast his image to remain as relevant as ever even as the state is expected to go to polls in another 11 months.
