On home turf, Chouhan's clout overcomes hurdles

Conversations in Budhni are incomplete without a reference to the constituency's special status. Identified as chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's pocket borough, Budhni in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh is one of the most watched constituencies in the state that goes to polls on November 17.

- Smriti Kak Ramachandran

And while some residents say the CM's constituency for 25 years, Budhni, is hardly a template for replication - lack of employment avenues, particularly white-collar jobs, uneven implementation of social schemes are some of the issues they raise there is no anger on the ground. Nor are his die-hard supporters overly bothered by speculation that Chouhan will not be the party's chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming polls. "People here are not ruffled easily," laughed an employee of the postal department. He said news of the CM being sidelined or not considered for the post is fodder for chatter, but there is no indication on the ground of large-scale protests by his supporters.

Some residents acknowledged that the constituency has reasonably good arterial roads, a couple of big industries, and a good crop yield being positioned on the banks of the mighty Narmada, a revered river in the state - but added that the absence of bigticket infrastructure projects or employment avenues prevent Budhni from being an investment destination.

"You can say people here are comfortable, but there is nothing extraordinary given that it is a CM's seat and a special constituency...," said a resident and a government employee, who asked not to be named.