BJP party veteran Shivraj Singh Chouhan, popularly known as ‘mama’ in the state of Madhya Pradesh, who led the party to three back to back victories in Madhya Pradesh, has gracefully conceded defeat to the Congress party and bowed out with immense gratification, taking full responsibility of the defeat.
After the assembly election results were out on Tuesday and the total seat tally did not favour the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, BJP decided not to stake claim to form the government in the state.
Madhya Pradesh had by far seen the most nail-biting finish, as no party reached the clear majority mark of 116 seats required to form the government in the 230-member house. While the incumbent BJP won 109 seats, the opposition Congress party won 114 seats, two short of the majority mark.
The BJP stalwart, outgoing chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday took sole responsibility for BJP’s defeat in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. “It’s true we didn’t get the majority (in the elections), and if anyone is responsible for the defeat, it is Shivraj Singh Chouhan,” saying this, the outgoing chief minister tendered his resignation to the Governor Anadiben Patel. Chauhan also congratulated Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath for the victory.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Ab mein mukt hoon, I am free. I have tendered my resignation to the honourable Governor. The responsibility of defeat is totally mine. I have congratulated Kamal Nath ji pic.twitter.com/Zuek1cSGGa
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2018
“Kya haar mein, kya jeet mein, kinchit nahin bhaybhit main, kartavya path par jo bhi mila, yeh bhi sahi woh bhi sahi (Victory or defeat, nothing scares me. I will accept whatever comes my way in the path of duty),” Shivraj Singh Chouhan recited a few lines from a poem by Shiv Mangal Singh “Suman” before gracefully resigning from his post.
Twitterati defining the party veteran as a ‘BJP stalwart in Vajpayee mould’ and the ‘people’s chief minister’, poured out with extreme adoration for maintaining the dignity of the office and accepting defeat with as much grace.
Once again, by respecting the mandate in MP rather than try a smash-and-grab like Karnataka, @ChouhanShivraj shows why he’s among our most dignified political leaders. He’s a BJP stalwart in Vajpayee mould who nearly pulled off an incredible fourth term.
— Pradeep Mishra (@pradeep22m) December 12, 2018
People took to Twitter to applaud his dedication and hard work crediting him for transforming Madhya Pradesh in the last 15 years.
@ChouhanShivraj thanks for transforming MP in 15 years.we will not forget you & we will pray that you come again for the service of motherland with great majority @drramansingh special thanks to you also for a great service to people of CH hope in next term we see you again
— iam#NewIndia (@newindiaalways) December 12, 2018
Congratulations to @INCIndia. And as for you, @ChouhanShivraj, grace personified. You are a credit to your party. A decade and a half of anti-incumbency and yet you came so close. A rare feat, given the nature of our election cycle. Best wishes. https://t.co/NGqstBDca3
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) December 12, 2018
I am not from MP but heard Indore was once the dirtiest city, but now Indore is the cleanest city in India. Thank you Mama .@ChouhanShivraj ji. Your hard work will always be respected. You have indeed won hearts. .@BJP4India .@ShefVaidya .@RituRathaur .@mvmeet .@krithikasivasw
— Ravi ?? (@RaviSKI1) December 12, 2018
The 59-year-old BJP leader first became the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in November 2005. During that time he was a Lok Sabha MP, but the party had decided to make him CM of Madhya Pradesh after the resignation of then CM Babulal Gaur. Serving Madhya Pradesh for over 12 years back to back, he broke the record of his predecessor and senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who ruled the state for two consecutive years from 1993 to 2003.
