Union minister Chouhan slams Sehore demolition, fueling talk of BJP split
Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan publicly condemned the demolition of 12 Barela tribal homes in Sehore, sparking speculation of a rift with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
In Sehore district, officials from the forest department and district administration demolished 12 homes belonging to the Barela tribe in Kosmi village, an area long represented by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Chouhan, now a Union minister, publicly denounced the demolition, arguing it punished BJP supporters whose votes helped the party win and install Mohan Yadav as chief minister. Yadav subsequently directed an inquiry into the incident, prompting senior BJP leaders to suggest the clash stems from the new government's reversal of several of Chouhan's decisions.
The controversy echoes a similar demolition in June 2025, which Chouhan had previously halted, and follows recent farmer protests over moong dal procurement and criticism of the Ladli Behna scheme. Party spokesperson Hitesh Bajpai dismissed claims of a factional fight, calling the issue a legal-humanitarian matter that will be resolved. The episode has revived concerns about internal cohesion within the state BJP.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights potential fractures in the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh, affecting governance and tribal welfare.
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