Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a high-level meeting with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday night to address the contentious demolition of houses belonging to 12 tribal families in Kosmi village. The village is situated within the Budhni assembly constituency, a region long considered a stronghold of the former Chief Minister, who represented the area for nearly two decades. The meeting, which took place at the Chief Minister's residence in Bhopal, was also attended by state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Hemant Khandelwal and other local party functionaries.
The dialogue between the two leaders followed a period of heightened political tension within the state unit of the ruling party. Earlier this week, Mr. Chouhan had publicly expressed his sharp dissatisfaction with the state administration’s handling of the demolition, which involved the destruction of both homes and standing crops. The Union Minister had previously voiced his concerns directly to Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal and the state party president, urging them to halt the Forest Department's encroachment drive. However, when the action proceeded despite these interventions, Mr. Chouhan described the situation as the “height of injustice and oppression.”
These public remarks from the former Chief Minister, who led the state for nearly 17 years, fueled widespread speculation regarding a potential power tussle between him and his successor, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Political observers have noted that these events have occurred against a backdrop of reported dissatisfaction among various senior state cabinet ministers regarding the current leadership. Mr. Chouhan’s comments, in which he reminded the administration that the tribal community had consistently voted for the BJP, added further weight to the internal party friction being discussed in political corridors.
The delegation that accompanied Mr. Chouhan included the current Budhni MLA, Ramakant Bhargava, along with members of the families affected by the demolitions. These families had been staging protests in Kosmi village since the exercise took place and had reportedly planned to march to the state capital to voice their grievances before the scheduled meeting occurred. According to an official statement issued by the state government, the delegation formally briefed Chief Minister Yadav on the events in Sehore district and submitted a memorandum outlining their primary demands for restitution.
Following the discussions, the Chief Minister provided assurances to the delegation that the administration would treat the matter with the “utmost seriousness.” The state government’s statement further noted that Mr. Yadav emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for all parties involved. He committed to finding a practical solution through a process of mutual dialogue, aiming to resolve the impasse surrounding the land dispute and the subsequent administrative action taken by the Forest Department.
The Budhni constituency holds significant political weight, as it falls under the Vidisha Lok Sabha segment, which is currently represented by Mr. Chouhan. As the situation remains fluid, the affected families and local observers are waiting to see how the promised investigation will address the loss of property and the displacement caused by the forest land encroachment drive. The administration has not yet provided a timeline for the conclusion of this probe, but the high-profile nature of the intervention suggests that the government is keen to manage the fallout within its party ranks while attempting to appease the tribal community ahead of any further escalation.
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