In a surprise selection, the Bharatiya Janata Party has unanimously chosen Mohan Yadav, an MLA from Ujjain South, as the party’s Legislative Party leader in a meeting held in presence of Central Observers at State Headquarters in Bhopal on Monday evening. This has brought an end to the suspense of who would become the CM of the State. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Mohan Yadav on Monday said the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government will take place on December 13. Mohan Yadav has replaced Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the new CM of Madhya Pradesh. A member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Ujjain for three terms, Yadav served as Higher Education Minister in the previous Government under Chouhan. Now, he will succeed Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who completed four terms as the CM of the State. In his first reaction after being announced as Chief Minister, Yadav thanked the State as well as Central leadership.

 

He said “I am a small worker of the party. I thanked the State as well as Central leadership for bestowing responsibility in me. With your love and support, I will try to fulfill all my responsibilities.” The 58-year-old OBC leader’s name surprised many as his name was not among the list of contenders which was making rounds in political circles. Words of anything can happen in the air (kuchh bhi ho sakata hai). The announcement of Yadav’s name as Chief Minister came at around 4.40 pm after a key meeting of the BJP’s newly-elected MLAs. Although his political journey began as student leader. He joined Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). His stint in politics got momentum in the year 2013 when he was first elected as an MLA. He was the chief of the Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation from the year 2011-13. He was re-elected in the 2018 Assembly elections. Yadav’s influence in the State’s political scene was further strengthened when he took oath as a Cabinet Minister in the government led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 2, 2020. The BJP contested the recently concluded Assembly polls without declaring any CM face.

 

The party won a landslide victory, securing 163 out of the total 230 seats and retained power in the State. Since the day election results out, there were speculations about CM’s were making rounds. Speaking to ‘The Hitavada’, Senior BJP leader and MLA from Indore-1 seat, Kailash Vijayvargiya said “Under Modiji’s leadership New India is emerging. It symbolises new energy, New hope and journey of development will attend new heights. Madhya Pradesh Under Yadav’s leadership will fulfill Modiji’s guarantee.” Responding about Yadav’s name, BJP leaders expressed hope that his leadership will take the State to new heights. He comes from the OBC background.

 

This is a moment of pride and he is a mass leader. After winning from Ujjain South seat, Yadav had stated on his tweet that “This victory by 13,000 votes is dedicated to every person of my area. Every sister, every God-like worker of BJP and organisation”. Mohan Yadav was born on March 25, 1965, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. He has been associated with BJP for many years. In the recent 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, Mohan Yadav became MLA from Ujjain South seat by winning against Congress candidate Chetan Premnarayan Yadav by a margin of 12,941 votes. CM-designate Yadav thanks Central leadership: CM-designate Mohan Yadav, has said “Thanks to Central leadership who has expressed faith in me. We will work on the theme- MP ke Mann main Modi, Modi ke Mann main MP. It is the BJP only that has given a chance to a small worker like me to serve the State”.