Would rather die than go and ask something for myself: Shivraj

Bhopal: Amid speculations on his political future in the wake of his replacement in the chief minister’s post after BJP won a landslide victory in the Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that “I would rather die than go (to the leadership) and ask for something for myself”.

Breaking his silence on the development, Chouhan said “One thing I say with great humility is that I would rather die than go and ask for something for myself. That’s not my job”.

Addressing his maiden press conference after he lost the post of chief minister, Chouhan sought to clarify his earlier statement that he would not go to Delhi (to lobby for retaining the chief minister’s post).

“The question put to me that day was whether I would go to Delhi (to lobby for CM post) since the rest are in Delhi. One thing I say with humility is that I would rather die than go and ask for something for myself. That’s not my job. That is the reason why I had said that I will not go to Delhi”, he said.

The four-time chief minister parried a question as to if he would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election, terming it ‘hypothetical’.

The former chief minister has however hastened to add that he is a disciplined party worker and will abide by the party’s decision.

“I am committed to a larger mission”, he said.

Replying to a question as to if justice was denied to him by the party by depriving him of a fifth term in power in the state, he said, “The party has made an ordinary worker like me the chief minister for 18 years. So, where is injustice? BJP has given me everything. It is now payback time for me to reciprocate and give back to the party”.

Chouhan said that he would extend his whole-hearted support to new chief minister Mohan Yadav and exuded confidence that the latter would take the state to new heights in terms of development and progress.

The former chief minister said that the state has made significant progress during his 18-year-rule.