Arun Yadav: Will defeat CM Shivraj Singh with huge margin in Budhni

Former chief of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Arun Singh Yadav is perhaps fighting the most crucial political battle of his life. Pitted against MP CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan for the Budhni assembly seat, Yadav who is known for his politeness is confident of his victory in the election.

Although, he is apprehensive of the misuse of state machinery in the election, he feels that the people of Madhya Pradesh are looking for a change. “Winds of change will sweep away misrule and corruption of Shivraj Singh’s government,” he said.

In a candid conversation with the National Herald, the former Union minister of state for agriculture and food processing industries in the previous Congress-led UPA government, Yadav picked holes at the undefeatable image of Shivraj Singh. “It is not my personal battle. People are fighting against the 15-year misrule of Shivraj Singh Chauhan, marred by the rampant corruption and rise of sand mafia,” said Yadav

“People of Budni assembly will defeat Shivraj Singh with a huge margin,” added Yadav and pointed out that he (Shivraj Singh) has put the whole state machinery in place to defeat me.

Demanding installation of CCTVs at polling booths, Yadav further said, “EC should ensure video-recording of polling, deployment of Central forces should be done two days prior to the voting and special observers from outside the state should be deployed at each and every booth to ensure free and fair elections.”

When asked about the prospect of the Congress returning to the power in the state after 15-years, Yadav said Congress will form the government with full majority. He however, also said that an alliance with the BSP would have benefitted the most.

An OBC by caste, Yadav believes: “BSP may have some impact on the outcome especially on seats bordering with UP. Chambal and Bundelkhand are the regions where BSP have a support base. But, overall Congress will win the election as there is strong wave of the anti-incumbency.”

Echoing Yadav’s views, a political observer commented that the face has become less important in this election. “No matter how much of heavyweight politician you are, people are just fed up with the same party faces. Now, they want change in the state which is otherwise considered very stagnant or static, both in terms of social changes and political changes.”

Located about about 70 km from Bhopal, in Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district, Budhni is Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s home turf. He won the seat for the first time back in 1990.

In the 2013 Assembly elections, Chauhan had defeated the Congress candidate, Mahendra Singh by a whopping 84,805 votes.

After being elected Chief Minister of the state, Shivraj contested a by-election from the Budhni assembly and won by a margin of over 36,000 votes.

In 2008, Chouhan retained his Budhni seat by over 41,000 votes, and with it, led the BJP to a second consecutive victory in the state. Again in 2013, Chauhan won the Legislative Assembly elections in Budhni with 1,28,730 votes.

However, unaffected by the consecutive victories, Yadav said Budhni will make history in this election by defeating Chauhan in his home turf.