BJP: Shivraj will stay, no leadership change in MP
Amid speculation on a leadership change in Madhya Pradesh, after a series of closed-door meetings by senior party leaders here in the past few days, the BJP said Monday chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan would not be disturbed.
BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, whose “courtesy visits” to senior BJP leaders here sparked unease, told reporters: “There will be no change of leadership in MP. CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan will continue in his post.”
Amid speculations about change of leadership in Madhya Pradesh, triggered by a series of closed-door meetings held by some senior party leaders here in the past few days, BJP on Monday said that chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan would not be disturbed.
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya whose ‘courtesy visits’ to senior BJP leaders here had sparked unease in a section of ruling BJP here, told reporters here that “There will be no change of leadership in MP. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will continue in his post”.
“My recent visits to some of my colleagues in the party have nothing to do with politics. It should not be given a political colour. There is nothing unusual about it since we consider it appropriate to spend some time with our friends during the pandemic period which has restricted our movements considerably”, Mr Vijayvargiya said while explaining his ‘closed-door’ meetings with some senior party leaders.
Mr Vijayvargiya, considered a political rival of the chief minister, also made it clear that he was not in the race for the coveted post.
“I am busy with other assignments (given by the party)”, he quipped.
State home minister Narottam Mishra also issued a statement that “There will not be change of leadership in Madhya Pradesh”. “The fake news on an imminent change of leadership in MP was spread in social media. It is absolutely baseless. Mr Chouhan is our chief minister and will remain our chief minister”, Mr Mishra said.
Mr Mishra, who was an aspirant to the chief minister’s post when Mr Chouhan was appointed to the post after BJP returned to power in MP following the fall of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government in March, 2020, had held closed-door meetings with several senior BJP leaders such as Mr Vijayvargiya and Prabhat Jha giving rise to speculations on revival of dissidence in the party against Mr Chouhan.
State party president Vishnu Dutt Sharma had made several visits to Mr Mishra giving credence to the talks making the rounds in the political circle here that something was cooking up in the party.
Besides, Mr Vijayvargiya’s recent meeting with Union tourism minister Prallhad Patel had also given grist to the rumour mill.