On campaign trail with 'Mama': Home-cooked food, nap in chopper and multiple rallies

Eyeing a return to power, Madhya Pradesh's longest-serving Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is not leaving any part of this large state uncovered while campaigning for the assembly elections and on his way, he carries home-cooked food and manages with small naps inside his chopper in between rallies.

Responding to chants of 'Mama, Mama' - his popular moniker -- by children, Chouhan tells them their 'mama' (maternal uncle) would take care of them, while in rallies he never misses any chance to take a dig at leaders of the Congress, which is trying hard in these elections to return to power.

"Jab Tak Rahega Diggi (former Congress CM Digvijay Singh) tab Tak jalegi dibbi," Chouhan said during his campaign trail on Saturday, referring to the Congress rule till 2003 and alleging that the people felt at that time that they would have to manage with kerosene lamps as long as Digvijay Singh was in power.

The BJP is banking on Chouhan's image for returning to power in the state for the fourth consecutive time, while the Congress leaders feel there is a strong anti-incumbency factor against Chouhan, who has been the chief minister since 2005.

For Chouhan also, listing his government's achievements has equal importance in his speeches as his description of the situation during the Congress's rule till 2003 in the state.

He alleges that the Congress leaders have become frustrated after being out of power for so long and therefore, they don't like his development work.

Dressed in his trademark kurta pyjama with jacket, as he headed for Ratangarh in Jawad assembly constituency in Neemucu district on his Bell helicopter, Chouhan said, "They are away from the chair for 15 years and when now they see that I am coming back to power for the fourth time, Congress leaders get angry and level baseless allegations."
Chouhan, who just released the party's vision document for the crucial assembly polls, said, "The scheme announced to benefit small and marginal farmers will prove to be a game changer."
When asked about his brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani joining the Congress recently, he said "It will not have any impact."
On his expectations on the number of seats that his party is expecting, Chouhan said "BJP has set a target of 200 plus and we will form the government for a record fourth time in a row."
When asked about political ambitions of his wife, Sadhna Singh, Chouhan said "She is my strength and she support me in all my endeavors."