If his first few days in office in his third innings as the chief minister are any indication,Shivraj Singh Chouhan has hit the ground sprinting with the target may be the 2014 general elections.
About 10 days after the BJP won a significant victory under him and three days after he was sworn in,Chouhan is no hurry to induct his ministerial colleagues and instead,in the absence of a cabinet,he has been taking significant decisions and doling out sops.
The 54-year-old was on the move immediately after he was administered the oath of office and secrecy at the sprawling Jamboree ground. In a clear departure from norms,and taking populism to a new level,he signed files on the dais while giving his speech to convey that he meant business. The first four files he signed had a clear stamp of his priorities: rice at Rs 1 a kg for poor; a commission for the middle class; a scheme to link farms to roads; and a board to promote trade.
The next two days saw him break bread with a Dalit family in Bhopal and another in Indore. Though he has done that in the past,the timing soon after the polls and when he is the only political boss in the state certainly made it the talking point. His first day at the Secretariat also saw him giving time-bound tasks to bureaucrats. Together,they ensured Chouhans image of a decisive leader who is soft with the poor and downtrodden stays intact.
Chouhans confidence also stems from the unequivocal support he enjoys from most top BJP leaders,especially L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj. Winning a third term in power has done wonders in extending that. At the legislature party meeting,Swaraj heaped praise on Chouhan and equated his showing with Modis.
With the party winning 165 seats and nearly reaching the 2003 tally,the BJP is expecting Chouhan to deliver in the general elections. In 2004 the party had won 25 out of 29 seats,its best showing ever,but lost nine seats in 2009. Chouhans cause would be best served if the party turns in a stellar performance.
Either way,Chouhan appears already in campaign mode.
Ghatwai is a senior assistant editor based in Bhopal
