What Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Reported Elevation In Modi Cabinet Tells Us About BJP And RSS' Working

If reports are to be believed, Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been appointed as the head of a monitoring group to oversee the implementation of the Modi government's schemes.

This marks a notable development.

Given Chouhan's administrative experience as the Chief Minister (CM) of Madhya Pradesh (MP) for 16 years, the longest-serving Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) CM, his new role does not come as a surprise.

From 2005 to 2023, with a gap of a little over a year after the 2018 assembly elections, Chouhan served the state as CM and ensured the availability of basic infrastructure like roads and power.

His most remarkable contribution was in the field of agriculture. Due to his efforts for agriculture financing and irrigation systems, MP now ranks first in the production of soybean, gram, urad, tur and masoor.

Given almost three-fourths of the MP population is rural, Chouhan's focus was women's empowerment and rural infrastructure development during his CM tenure. Thus, he completely fits in his role in the Modi cabinet.

However, many BJP observers also noted that the two portfolios with him do not fully do justice to Chouhan's capabilities and he could be utilised for bigger roles.

Hence, there were speculations of him being elevated to the post of BJP national president. But as per media reports, his name was rejected by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Notably, the RSS was also said to be behind the removal of Chouhan from the post of MP CM. The RSS had been reportedly looking for a new face in MP since the BJP could not secure a majority in the 2018 elections.

But the organisation could not replace Chouhan when the BJP formed government in the state in March 2020 due to the absence of any big Other Backward Class (OBC) leader at that time.

However, before the 2023 assembly elections, the BJP had given many hints that Chouhan would not continue as CM even if the party retains power and Mohan Yadav was ultimately chosen as the chief minister.

Despite having to leave the CM post, Chouhan did not take a single-day break and initiated 'Mission 29' from Chhindwara to win all 29 seats in MP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Under the Modi wave, the BJP won 27 seats in the state in 2014, barring Guna and Chhindwara. When Jyotiraditya Scindia lost in 2019, the BJP was able to win Guna but could not dent Kamal Nath's Chhindwara bastion. Thus, the party won 28 of 29 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Hence, it was an uphill task for the BJP to win Chhindwara in the Lok Sabha election, especially when the party had not won there since 1998. However, Chouhan delivered all 29 seats of MP to the BJP.

This victory was not only unprecedented but also came at a time when the BJP badly needed it as it could not make hattricks of clean sweeps in Rajasthan and Gujarat and suffered substantial losses in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

Chouhan was rewarded with the Cabinet berth but as said earlier, many observers did not find it enough. In this context, the RSS has backed Chouhan's recent elevation, a few political commentators told Swarajya.

The same RSS which neither wanted Chouhan to continue as MP CM nor become BJP national president has reportedly fully supported his enhanced role in the government. This suggests that the Sangh does not hold any grudge against Chouhan and was only following its principle of putting the man for the job at the correct position.

The removal of Chouhan from the post of MP CM had was also said to have litttle to do with his administrative capabilities; it was just to give people a fresh face as a leader since Chouhan was apparently unable to bring any new ideas to the table.

On a side note, we are witnessing increased involvement of the RSS in the BJP affairs after the setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The RSS involvement was also said to have helped the BJP secure a third term in Haryana.

The same is being tried to be implemented in assembly elections of Maharashtra, where RSS is already strong and in UP assembly by-polls, as can be understood from Mohan Bhagwat's meeting with UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

As far as Chouhan is concerned, his administrative capabilities and the record of scheme delivery were never under question. He will now oversee the implementation of schemes announced by the PM and in the Union Budget.

Chouhan will also look after infrastructure projects and subordinate legislation. Minister of State Jitendra Singh will assist him and all secretaries will report to him in the monthly meetings.

Reportedly, Modi found himself overwhelmed with responsibilities and hence decided to delegate some to Chouhan, who will relay any concerns or expectations from the PMO to the respective secretaries.

While this is neither an official post that has been given to Chouhan, nor an official notification was released in this regard, the recent elevation signifies Modi's trust in Chouhan for scheme implementation.

In general, Modi has been trusting those who have led governments on their own. Modi himself became the PM after his 12 years of experience as Gujarat CM.

This is the reason why six former CMs are Cabinet Ministers in Modi 3.0. However, Chouhan's elevation is also being linked to the succession battle after Modi, but that story is for another day.