After BJP’s Sidhi MLA Kedarnath Shukla demanded the resignation of party president Rakesh Singh for the by poll defeat in Jhabua, senior BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha member Raghunandan Sharma had targeted former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Sharma has also supported the Sidhi MLA’s view after the opposition party failed to retain the Jhabua assembly seat.

Chouhan is better known as ‘mama’. Sharma said, adding that the word also has a lot of significance in Jhabua and people are referred to as ‘mama’ with respect. “But, the ‘mama’ magic did not work in Jhabua and the former CM should introspect” he said. Defeat of the BJP candidate by a margin of 27,000 votes is not a small defeat, he added. “There has been enough of ‘mamagiri’ now let his bhanjas (nephew) come forward in the party” Sharma said.

Sharma said that the leaders in the party should not hesitate and accept responsibility for the loss in Jhabua. “If leaders shrug off their responsibility, it is not a healthy sign” he added. He said that there are many workers who spent heydays of their lives for the party. “But, people feel bad when there is lack of communication. Leaders like me are being side-lined” he alleged. The senior BJP leader said that there is total lack of communication within the party.

Sharma said that he had stated during the Vidhan Sabha elections last year that Chouhan should get all the credit in case the party wins the elections. “But at the same time he should also be held responsible if the party loses the assembly polls” he reminded.

“BJP should introspect the party’s loss in Jhabua and people responsible for the defeat should be held accountable” he added.

With his election, Kanti Lal Bhuria will be the senior most leader in the party after Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath and therefore he has every right to get some important assignment. Two options are open for him. One, a place in the cabinet and second becoming President of the state Congress. “The cabinet expansion is the privilege of chief minister. Only CM Kamal Nath can decide when to expand the ministry” said state Congress spokesman Durgesh Sharma. “But Kanti Lal Bhuria is the senior most tribal leader in the party. Considering Kanti Lal Bhuria’s experience as MP and Union minister, if the chief minister decides to induct him in the council of ministers, it will be welcomed by all” he said.

Kamal Nath was Union minister for commerce and industries when Bhuria was Union minister of state in UPA-2 government. In December 2018 when Congress formed government in the state after 15 years the greatest challenge before the party was lack of seasoned politicians who could be appointed cabinet ministers. Many leaders with experience of governance lost the elections including Ajay Singh, former deputy speaker Rajendra Singh, former Union minister of state Arun Yadav, state Congress working president Ram Niwas Rawat and Mukesh Nayak. Four of them were earlier ministers of the Digvijya Singh government.

Electoral defeat of big leaders resulted in induction of greenhorns in the state cabinet. “Kanti Lal Bhuria is a MLA with experience of a Union minister. In case of a cabinet expansion, he is likely to be the first on the list and probably be given a major portfolio. But the question is when will the chief minister decide to go for cabinet reshuffle” a senior Congress leader said.

At present Chief Minister Kamal Nath is holding both the posts. Among others Jyotiraditya Scindia is also tipped for the job. But he is facing opposition from a section of the party including Digvijaya Singh. But in case Bhuria’s name is proposed Digvijaya Singh may give his consent. It may be mentioned here that Bhuria had been the president of the party for one term. (IPA Service)