Bhopal: Three-time BJP MLA and former minister Dr Mohan Yadav who has been appointed new chief minister of Madhya Pradesh enjoys a clean image and is known for his simplicity.
Born in the holy city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on March 25, 1965, soft-spoken Mr Yadav began his political career in his college days in Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the 1980s.
He has also served in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in various capacities before being drafted in BJP in late 1990s.
He made debut in electoral politics in 2013 when he contested Assembly polls from Ujjain South seat in Madhya Pradesh and won.
In his second stint as an MLA from the same seat, Mr Yadav was made the higher education minister in the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.
He was credited to have implemented the National Education Policy (NEP) in Madhya Pradesh in 2021-22, a first in the country, when he was higher education minister in the previous BJP government.
He was elected to the state Assembly for the third time from the seat in 2023.
Mr Yadav who has done B.Sc, L.L.B, M.A (political science) and MBA is also a PhD holder.
He is known to maintain a low profile and shun controversies.
His family members were taken aback when he was elected chief minister by the BJP legislature party on Monday.
“It was a pleasant surprise for us. He became chief minister with the blessings of Lord Mahakaleshwar (the presiding deity of Mahakal shrine in Ujjain). I am confident that he will be able to carry out the responsibility given to him by BJP and lead Madhya Pradesh to the path of development”, Seema Yadav, wife of the chief minister-elect said.
“Our joy knew no bound”, Mr Yadav’s sister said.
Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar who attended the BJP legislature party meeting as one of the three observers appointed by BJP said, “He will play a role in taking forward the development journey of Madhya Pradesh”.
The outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan congratulated him for succeeding him in the coveted post and hoped that Mr Yadav would lead the state to progress.
