Heightened security at Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Bhopal residence fuels speculation over BJP national president post

With security being heightened overnight at the official residence of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal, and Chouhan suddenly leaving for New Delhi on Saturday afternoon, speculation was rife over the post of BJP National President. This came even as the official reason cited for the security beef-up was directives from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Police erected a tent for security personnel outside Chouhan’s residence on Link Road Number One in Bhopal. Additional police barricades were also put in place to cordon off the house, and extra police force was deployed at the spot.

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All these developments sparked rumours that something could be in the offing for Chouhan at the national level of the saffron party.

Moreover, Chouhan, who had arrived in Bhopal late on Friday night, hurriedly left for New Delhi on Saturday at around 2 pm. He was initially scheduled to depart in the evening.

This development further prompted many people, especially his supporters and well-wishers, to speculate that their leader could be elevated to the post of BJP National President.

However, security personnel and close associates of Chouhan, speaking on condition of anonymity, maintained that the changes were part of a routine security review carried out by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

They stated that the Home Ministry had directed the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Delhi to enhance Chouhan’s security cover.