Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Shivraj Singh Chouhan (also spelt Chauhan; Hindi pronunciation: [ʃɪʋ.ɾaːd͡ʒ sɪŋɡʱ t͡ʃɔːɦaːn̪]; born 5 March 1959) is an Indian politician who is serving as the 32nd Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and the 23rd Minister of Rural Development since 11 June 2024. Chouhan served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh from 2005 to 2018 and again from 2020 to 2023, and was a member of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Budhni from 2006 to 2024, and earlier from 1990 to 1991. He is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

He served as the Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2019 to 2020, and has been a member of the party's Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee. He was the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha from 2000 to 2002. Chouhan represented the Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency in the Lok Sabha from 1991 to 2005, and was again elected to the 18th Lok Sabha from the same constituency. Within the BJP, he has also served as General Secretary and President of the party’s Madhya Pradesh state unit.

Chouhan joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1972, at the age of 13.

He is known for launching various welfare schemes such as rice at ₹1 per kg for the poor, the Sambal scheme providing maternity assistance to women labourers, free education for underprivileged girls, subsidised electricity, the Ladli Laxmi Yojana, and the Beti Bachao Abhiyan. These welfare initiatives introduced by Chouhan are credited with contributing to the BJP's electoral victories in the 2008, 2013, and 2023 state elections.