Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday (August 26, 2025) dismissed speculation about him being in the race for the BJP’s top post, stressing that his entire focus remains on agriculture and farmers’ welfare.
Responding to questions about his reported meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in New Delhi, Chouhan sidestepped political speculation and underlined his ministerial responsibilities.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has entrusted me with the responsibility of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development. At this moment, agriculture is in every pore of my body, and farmers are in my breath,” he said.
When pressed further on the BJP leadership question, Chouhan clarified:
“Neither have I ever thought of it, nor has anyone told me. I can’t even think of it. Serving farmers is worship for me, and I want to continue this worship.”
At 66, Chouhan remains one of the BJP’s most prominent OBC leaders with a strong grassroots base. After leading the party to a resounding win in Madhya Pradesh’s 2023 assembly elections, he resigned from the state assembly, contested and won the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Vidisha, and later became part of Modi 3.0 Cabinet.
The BJP’s organisational leadership question remains open, as current party president J.P. Nadda’s three-year term ended nearly two years ago and was subsequently extended.