Four-Time Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Sworn In To Modi 3.0 Cabinet

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, was sworn in as a member of the National Democratic Alliance cabinet on Sunday.

Proving wrong his detractors' claims of being sidelined after being denied the Chief Minister's post for the fifth time last year, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan had won Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha Lok Sabha seat for the sixth time by a record margin of 8.21 lakh votes.

During his more than 18-year tenure as Chief Minister, barring 15 months of Congress rule in 2018, Chouhan evolved from a shy, simple politician into a leader with mass appeal and unmatched dedication.

Known for his soft-spoken nature and simplicity, the 65-year-old leader spearheaded the BJP's campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh, presenting himself as one among the people. He promised further development and ample funds for populist schemes initiated under his leadership.

Chouhan's elevation to Union Cabinet Minister marks his first such role in his over three-decade-long political career, a move anticipated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised him at a rally in Madhya Pradesh before the polls.

Born on March 5, 1959, in a farming family in Jait village, Sehore district, Chouhan's political journey began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the age of 13. His leadership potential first emerged when he was elected president of the Model Higher Secondary School students' union in 1975.

He actively participated in the underground movement against the Emergency, facing imprisonment in 1976-77 and on numerous other occasions for political agitations and public causes.

In the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Chouhan campaigned extensively, leading the BJP to win all 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, including the Congress stronghold of Chhindwara.

Despite not being projected as the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in the 2023 Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, Chouhan turned the tide in favor of his party with game-changing schemes like the Ladli Behna initiative, countering anti-incumbency sentiments.

Watch the cabinet ministers being sworn in here:

(With inputs from PTI)