Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan insists that there is no conflict with his Gujarat counterpart and party senior Narendra Modi, but has also emphasised where his allegiance lies.
Narendra Modi, Mr Chouhan told NDTV, "is my elder brother, a BJP leader." But it was LK Advani, he said, who for him was the BJP's foremost leader. "Advani Ji is a national leader for me, Modi and everyone else," Mr Chouhan said.
The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister is touring his state in a 50-day yatra as he seeks a third straight term in office in this year's Assembly elections. If the popular Mr Chouhan is able to do that, it will bring him into the exclusive club of very successful BJP chief ministers, of which Mr Modi is a prominent member, having secured a fourth straight term as Gujarat Chief Minister last year. At the launch of his yatra, posters showcased BJP president Rajnath Singh, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior leader LK Advani. Even senior leader Sushma Swaraj was featured, but not Mr Modi, who heads the party's campaign not just for the next general elections, but also for assembly elections in four states, including Madhya Pradesh, later this year.
Mr Chouhan saw no controversy in that omission at all, saying, "We need not trouble national leaders for everything; for events like this, small leaders like me are enough."
He also seemed to demarcate territory when he said, "I am enough for Madhya Pradesh. The national leadership can work at a national level."
Mr Chouhan has been often projected by Mr Modi's rivals, especially Mr Advani, as a counter the latter's claim to being the most efficient and successful administrator among the BJP's chief ministers. Mr Advani has often drawn a comparison between the two, praising Mr Chouhan's achievements in developing his state as more significant than the growth story that Mr Modi has scripted in Gujarat.
Mr Chouhan has not always sought to play down that internal rivalry. As he prepares for assembly elections, Mr Chouhan, for long an understated politician, has in recent times even taken to tweeting prolifically about his government's successes much like Mr Modi does.
Narendra Modi, Mr Chouhan told NDTV, "is my elder brother, a BJP leader." But it was LK Advani, he said, who for him was the BJP's foremost leader. "Advani Ji is a national leader for me, Modi and everyone else," Mr Chouhan said.
The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister is touring his state in a 50-day yatra as he seeks a third straight term in office in this year's Assembly elections. If the popular Mr Chouhan is able to do that, it will bring him into the exclusive club of very successful BJP chief ministers, of which Mr Modi is a prominent member, having secured a fourth straight term as Gujarat Chief Minister last year. At the launch of his yatra, posters showcased BJP president Rajnath Singh, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior leader LK Advani. Even senior leader Sushma Swaraj was featured, but not Mr Modi, who heads the party's campaign not just for the next general elections, but also for assembly elections in four states, including Madhya Pradesh, later this year.
Mr Chouhan saw no controversy in that omission at all, saying, "We need not trouble national leaders for everything; for events like this, small leaders like me are enough."
He also seemed to demarcate territory when he said, "I am enough for Madhya Pradesh. The national leadership can work at a national level."
Mr Chouhan has been often projected by Mr Modi's rivals, especially Mr Advani, as a counter the latter's claim to being the most efficient and successful administrator among the BJP's chief ministers. Mr Advani has often drawn a comparison between the two, praising Mr Chouhan's achievements in developing his state as more significant than the growth story that Mr Modi has scripted in Gujarat.
Mr Chouhan has not always sought to play down that internal rivalry. As he prepares for assembly elections, Mr Chouhan, for long an understated politician, has in recent times even taken to tweeting prolifically about his government's successes much like Mr Modi does.
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