Lok Sabha polls: Shivraj Singh Chouhan hits campaign trail with train travel from Bhopal to Ganjbasoda in MP
BJP candidate from the Vidisha Lok Sabha seat Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday hit the campaign trail by hopping onto a second-class coach of a train from Bhopal to Ganjbasoda, interacting with passengers. Chouhan (65) has entered the Lok Sabha poll arena after two decades and will contest his sixth parliamentary election from Vidisha. This seat was earlier held by BJP leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1991) and Sushma Swaraj (2009 and 2014).
«I have been travelling by train since I was an MP. My heart is full of happiness. I am going to Ganjbasoda, which is my 'karmabhoomi' (workplace). I have family relations with the people and I am going again there to meet all of them,» Chouhan told PTI on the train when asked that he was going to his constituency by rail after a long time.
Chouhan's home turf Budhni is part of Vidisha Lok Sabha seat, a BJP citadel which the Congress won only twice (1980 and 1984) since 1967. The Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the constituency.
The ex-CM was accompanied by his wife Sadhana.
During the journey, he chatted with a child, who sat on the ex-CM's lap swinging one leg, before interacting with daily passengers.
Chouhan also met party workers who had gathered in large numbers at Salamatpur, Sanchi, Vidisha, Gulabganj and Ganjbasoda stations.
Asked if the contest would be tougher this time considering that two new areas — Khategaon and Ichhawar — are now linked with Vidisha Lok Sabha seat, while Kurwai and Shamshabad have been removed, Chouhan said he was confident of
