Congress win in bypoll means no development in Budhni: Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son
Bhopal: Ahead of the Budhni bypoll in Madhya Pradesh, a video featuring Kartikey Singh Chouhan, son of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has sparked controversy. In the video, Kartikey warns voters that if a Congress MLA wins the Assembly seat, “not a single brick would get laid in the constituency.”
This election marks Kartikey's first entry into the political arena, where he is leading the BJP campaign in Budhni, a constituency historically held by his father. During a public rally, he questioned supporters, stating, “If the election result is close, how will we face our leaders to ask for work?”
He continued, “If, by any chance, a Congress MLA wins here… then you realise who will suffer. Why would we harm ourselves? Don’t we have to go to our Chief Minister to get work done? Don’t we have to approach our honorable Agriculture Minister for our work?”
As the video circulated, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh responded, advising Kartikey to learn from his father’s experience. “In a democracy, both the government and the opposition work together to build the nation. I never used this kind of language,” he remarked.
Kartikey retorted, suggesting that the people of Budhni still feared the aftermath of Digvijaya’s decade-long tenure as Chief Minister. He stated, “If anyone is scared of anything… it is your ten-year rule, in which you left a state of destruction.”
BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja defended Kartikey’s remarks, claiming they were intended to boost the morale of BJP supporters, asserting that “it would be difficult to get work done with a Congress MLA.”
The BJP has nominated Ramakant Bhargava for the November 13 Budhni Assembly bypoll. However, it is widely acknowledged that Kartikey is driving the campaign efforts, engaging with party workers across various levels.
Despite speculation about his political ambitions, Kartikey emphasized that he doesn’t seek a ticket for himself, stating, “I have been coming for 10-20 years… I didn’t get the ticket, I know. There is no guarantee I will get it in the future either.”
The Budhni campaign has already faced challenges, including discontent among supporters of Rajendra Singh Rajput, a former MLA, regarding the selection of Bhargava. Kartikey has reportedly mediated to calm tensions, claiming that Congress members masquerading as BJP workers were attempting to create dissatisfaction within party ranks.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
