MP: Shivraj loses his famous Shyamla Hills address for 2nd time in 18 years

Bhopal: Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lost his ‘famous’ address- B/6, Shyamla Hills- for the second time in 18 years when he vacated the CM designated bungalow here to pave way for the new occupant, his successor Mohan Yadav.

Being the longest chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mr Chouhan had been the longest resident of the sprawling bungalow, built over the scenic Shyamla Hills overlooking the ‘Badi Talab’ lake on three sides, thus far.

Mr Chouhan had been the occupant of the bungalow since late 2005, when he became chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, barring a short period of 15 months in 2018-2020 when his then successor Kamal Nath shifted to the official residence of the chief minister.

B/6 Shyamla Hills had literally become the ‘seat of government’ replacing the state secretariat almost for two years in 2020-2022 when Covid-19 pandemic had completely disrupted normal life.

“I had taken many major decisions relating to the welfare of people and development of the state. I hail the bungalow’s new occupant, chief minister Mohan Yadav, and wish him success”, Mr Chouhan with tears welling up in his eyes told the media while leaving the quarters.

Mr Chouhan has now shifted to B-8, 74 Bungalows, one of the posh areas in Arera Hills, where ministers and bureaucrats have been allotted government quarters.

Incidentally, this was the bungalow where Mr Chouhan had shifted to after BJP lost power in the 2018 Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh to Congress.

He was then, in fact, allotted another government quarters, 7-Civil Lines, Professor’s Colony, close to Shyamla Hills area after former Minister for External Affairs (MEA) Sushma Swaraj, who was allotted the bungalow for being the member of Lok Sabha from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, had given her consent to vacate it.

A notice issued by state home department on December 17, 2018 said, “MLA from Budhni (Mr Chouhan) has been allotted the house (7-Civil Lines, Professor’s Colony) for three years for a rent of Rs 3,000 per month”.

Mr Chouhan had however then reportedly changed his mind and chosen to stay in B-8, 74 Bungalows, following reports of ‘Vaastu’ problem in the allotted bungalow.

In the B/6, Shyamla Hills bungalow, Mr Chouhan had his last dignitary visitor in chief minister Mr Yadav on Tuesday.