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Minister steals Chouhan show
Madhya Pradesh Commerce and Industries Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya seems to have stolen the show from state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
Madhya Pradesh Commerce and Industries Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya seems to have stolen the show from state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
First, he prevailed upon the BJP leadership to hold its national council meeting — the first under Nitin Gadkari’s leadership — in his hometown and assembly constituency Indore. He then commandeered material and human resources to organise and manage the party event. So much so that many of his followers say he is the BJP’s new Pramod Mahajan.
Party sources said that as soon as Vijayvargiya came to know about the party leadership considering Madhya Pradesh as a possible venue for the conclave, the minister rushed to Delhi and used a slide show to convince the top brass that the state’s commercial capital would be the best venue.
He got better of his rivals, including former Union minister Sumitra Mahajan, who also hails from Indore. Once he got the green signal, Vijayvargiya organised a tented township, 10 km from Indore.
The township at Omaxe City has 1,300 tents to accommodate 5,000 delegates, several halls for exhibitions, a media centre, control room and other facilities. The entire township was raised in just 20 days.
Sensing Gadkari’s interests, he suggested that the entire township be developed as an eco-friendly venue, with vehicles plying within the campus on CNG and batteries.
Vijayvargiya however, sought to downplay his role. “I have done nothing. It is all the party’s show. And my position remains the same as it has for years.”
