'Tiger abhi zinda hai': Shivraj Singh Chouhan evokes Salman Khan to reassure supporters

Taking a cue from Salman Khan starrer Bollywood flick "Tiger Zinda Hai", former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday assured the people of his state that they need not worry as "Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai" (the tiger is still alive).

Expressing gratitude towards the residents of his constituency, Budhni, the BJP leader said, "No one needs to worry about what will happen to them. I am still here. Tiger Abhi Zinda hai."

Chouhan, who ruled the state for 13 years, had been fondly called 'Mama' or maternal uncle who looks after the people as their own. 

He is also known for his witty remarks and has used rhyming one-liners, and innuendoes to target his political rivals.

During poll campaigning in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi, by referring to a Bollywood song, 'Tum to thehre pardesi saath kya nibhaoge'.

In the recently concluded elections, the Congress managed to bag 114 seats out of a total of 230, while the BJP got 109 seats, BSP two, Samajwadi Party one and Independents four. Later, the BSP and the SP extended their support to the Congress to claim government in the state. 

Congress' Kamal Nath took oath as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister at a ceremony in Bhopal on Monday. Chouhan, the three-time Chief Minister of the state, took an active part in the event to pass the baton to his Congress successor. 

Invited on stage, the 59-year-old was photographed with his successor and Jyotiraditya Scindia, their linked arms raised in jubilation. 

However, the senior BJP leader was back in the opposition role when he attacked the Nath for his comments linking job deprivation to influx of workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

"Lot of industries are set up in which people from other states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, come to work. I do not want to criticise them, but the youth of Madhya Pradesh are deprived (of jobs)," Nath had said on Monday announcing a new state government policy under which industries availing investment incentives will need to give 70 per cent employment to local youths.

Chouhan took a jibe saying no one was an outsider in Madhya Pradesh and it is known as 'heart of India' for accepting everyone as its own.

(With agencies)