Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav Embroiled in Land Acquisition Controversy

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav is at the center of a land acquisition controversy, with allegations suggesting his family and associated real estate firms acquired 137 plots spanning 168 acres in Ujjain for Rs 45 crore since December 2023. The plots are concentrated in areas benefiting from recent road projects and land-use changes announced by the Madhya Pradesh government.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that these accusations are part of a broader BJP plot to discredit and potentially replace not just Mohan Yadav, but also the Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav defended Mohan Yadav, stating that his involvement in real estate was known before he became CM and that the timing of the allegations suggests a political motive, aiming to facilitate a change in leadership.

Congress launched a separate attack, with General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accusing Mohan Yadav of being at the helm of a 'plunder engine' under the BJP’s 'double-engine' government in Madhya Pradesh. Ramesh shared a news report on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the alleged land scam and speculating that former MP CM and current Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan might be orchestrating the leak to undermine Mohan Yadav.

Another Congress General Secretary, KC Venugopal, questioned why central investigative agencies like the ED and CBI had not acted against Mohan Yadav, alleging that these agencies are used to target opposition leaders while ignoring corruption within the BJP. Venugopal emphasized the scale of the alleged scam, questioning the inaction of the Prime Minister’s Office.

The allegations have sparked a political firestorm, with Akhilesh Yadav predicting that despite the BJP’s maneuvers, the Samajwadi Party’s 'cycle' symbol would prevail in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, moving so swiftly that other parties would 'clear its way'.

The controversy revolves around the strategic timing and location of the land purchases, which coincided with government announcements beneficial to the acquired properties. While Mohan Yadav’s pre-CM real estate activities are acknowledged, the scale and timing under his current tenure have raised concerns about conflict of interest and undue benefit.

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