Madhya Pradesh: BJP's Key OBC Leader Mohan Yadav Takes Oath As Chief Minister

Mohan Yadav took the oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, with a distinguished audience that included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and various chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, as stated by a party official.

The swearing-in ceremony occurred at the Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal and also witnessed the induction of two deputy chief ministers, Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Devda, alongside Yadav, according to Vishnu Dutt Sharma, the state BJP chief.

Addressing reporters after overseeing preparations, Sharma and outgoing Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan disclosed that elaborate arrangements have been made for the event. "Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J P Nadda, chief ministers from several BJP-ruled states, and central ministers, among others, will grace the oath-taking ceremony," Sharma confirmed.

Chouhan, in his capacity as the caretaker chief minister, emphasized his responsibility to ensure all necessary arrangements were in place.

Prominent figures such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia are expected to attend the ceremony, as per a BJP spokesperson. Additionally, a considerable turnout of Bharatiya Janata Party workers, particularly from Yadav's hometown Ujjain, is anticipated.

The BJP's decision to appoint Yadav as the new chief minister concluded days of speculation, denying Shivraj Singh Chouhan a historic fifth term in office. Yadav, aged 58 and a minister in the Chouhan government, was unanimously elected as the BJP legislative party leader during a meeting on Monday. Notably, senior BJP leader and newly-elected MLA Narendra Singh Tomar, previously a contender for the CM's post, is slated to assume the role of the new assembly speaker.

Yadav, initially not considered a front-runner for the top post, is known for his proximity to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, representing over 48 per cent of the state's population. Following his designation as chief minister-designate on Monday, Yadav promptly met with Governor Mangubhai Patel to stake a claim to form the next government. The Ujjain South MLA, elected in 2013, retained his assembly seat in 2018 and secured it again in the 2023 elections, where the BJP secured 163 out of 230 assembly seats, relegating the Congress to a distant second with 66 seats.