MP: 4-time CM Shivraj begins new political innings by winning Vidisha in style

Bhopal: BJP veteran and four-time chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan began his new political innings at the Centre in style by winning polls in Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh by a massive margin of 8,21,408 votes over his nearest Congress rival.

While Mr Chouhan secured 11,16,460 votes, his nearest Congress rival Pratap Bhanu Sharma bagged 2,95,052 votes.

The former chief minister’s victory margin in the polls is the second highest in the state after that of Shankar Lalwani who retained Indore LS seat in Madhya Pradesh for BJP with a record victory margin of 10,08, 077 votes over the runner in the seat, NOTA or none of the above.

Mr Chouhan who had won Vidisha LS thrice earlier before entering the Madhya Pradesh politics by winning elections in Budhni Assembly constituency in 2005 to become the chief minister had earlier openly expressed his reluctance to return to Central politics.

“I want to serve Madhya Pradesh till my last breath”, was his constant refrain.

He was however ‘taken aback’ when the BJP leadership chose two-time MLA Mohan Yadav to replace him as chief minister when the party retained power in Madhya Pradesh in 2023 Assembly polls.

“I am not going to Delhi (Central leadership) to beg for me”, he had said while expecting his suitable accommodation after he was not retained as chief minister following BJP’s landslide victory in the outgoing Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.

He however later made it clear that he would take up whatever responsibility the party gave him.

Mr Chouhan was made a candidate for Vidisha LS seat by the party with a clear indication that he would be shifted to Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had even declared at an election rally that he would ‘take’ Mr Chouhan to Delhi.

In his reaction to his massive victory in Vidisha, Mr Chouhan on Tuesday said that it reflected people’s faith in him and love for him.