BJP To Bet On Shivraj Singh Chouhan Again In Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will tweak his image and the BJP will recalibrate its schemes

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the BJP's four-time Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh, will be the party's face and Chief Ministerial candidate in the coming assembly elections in the state, sources have told NDTV. But given the party's defeat to the Congress in 2019, there are plans to tweak his image and recalibrate the party's approach, sources said.

Mr Chouhan has been given the freedom to rethink his new personna. The Chief Minister, fondly referred to as "mama" (maternal uncle), will retain his humble and inclusive image, especially among women, tribals and Dalits.

But in view of the growing law and order issues and corruption charges against his government, Mr Chouhan plans to come across as a strict administrator, sources have said. The development plank of the party will be buttressed through new schemes and programmes.

To that end, there will also be an expansion of Mr Chouhan's cabinet -- one of the staples of the party ahead of elections, especially in the Hindi belt. The Central leadership, sources said, has already green-lighted the cabinet expansion. A number of sitting MLAs will also be dropped under the other tried and tested formula, sources said.