Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan responded sharply after crude messages announcing his death were posted on social media on Wednesday.
While campaigning for BJP candidate Alok Sharma during a road show in Bhopal, Chouhan slammed the Congress and said the opposition party “is scared of me”.
“They keep abusing me every day. Yesterday some people tweeted ‘mama tera shraddh ho gaya (uncle, your funeral rites have been performed)’… prayers are being offered for my death. Congress wants my destruction but I am Shivraj… servant of the people. Even if I die I will rise like a phoenix to serve my people,” he said at the rally.
X handle @WithCongress – which the Congress says is not affiliated with the party but is followed by multiple state units, including the Madhya Pradesh office – had posted a photograph of Chouhan with the message “‘mama ka shraddh… shraddh mein BJP ne dia mama ko ticket’.”
The Chief Minister’s son, Kartikey Singh Chouhan, also lashed out at the post. “Do you think God will forgive you?,” he asked.
“Don’t know whether to pity or get angry. I am angry… after all you are talking about the shraddh of my living father. I also feel pity for you people… how low Congressmen have fallen today.”
“Elections are for four days only. Will you be able to see your children after such bad behavior?” Chouhan’s son asked on X.
Madhya Pradesh will vote in a single-phase election on November 17. Results are due December 3.
As polling nears, the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have stepped up their squabbling, with the latest exchanges over the delay in the latter releasing a first list of candidates.
Chouhan taunted the Congress on this score, declaring, “Our campaigning has begun and they are yet to release lists. What ‘muhurat’ (auspicious time) are they waiting for… is there infighting?”
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BJP has already released four lists of candidates for the MP assembly elections, in which several party big guns have been given tickets. The fifth and “explosive” list is likely on Sunday or Monday, NDTV reported.
Speculation over Chouhan’s political future – about which there was much buzz because he had not been mentioned in earlier lists – was resolved Monday after he and 24 of his ministers were named.
The list could include the name of Rajya Sabha MP and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Meanwhile, the Congress’ national spokesperson, Ragini Nayak responded “… 140 names were finalised (but) we will not release our list in Shraddh Paksh. There will be no opposition after release of our list…”