From Business Failures to Political Power: Brijmohan Agrawal Story

Raipur | Correspondent: In the bustling city of Raipur, near the well-known Prabhat Talkies, a young man named Brijmohan Agrawal once embarked on a humble entrepreneurial journey by opening a fan shop.

Despite his best efforts, the venture struggled due to debts and inexperience. Persistent, he then tried his hand at running an iron shop, which also met with failure. However, these initial setbacks were merely the preliminary steps to an extraordinary political career.

For nearly four decades, Brijmohan Agrawal’s influence and leadership became a defining force in Chhattisgarh’s political landscape. Yet today, as questions swirl about his future, the trajectory of this veteran politician, who once held the reins of power as a 33 years long-serving legislator and minister, stands at a critical juncture.

Although, supporters envision a potential central role for him, yet current cabinet positions are completely occupied.

Besides, within the Bhartiya Janta Party, key roles have been assigned by several other Chhattisgarh politicians who began their political journey long after the prominent Agrawal, with the exception of the president.

Student Activism to Political Leadership

Brijmohan Agarwal, aged around 65, hails from a business oriented family background has been actively engaged in social and political spheres. A graduate in commerce and arts, and a law degree holder, he was deeply involved with the Vidhyarthi Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during his college years at Raipur’s Durga College. His leadership as the college’s student union president was marked by activism, including protests against academic policies which have also led him to expulsion from college. Undeterred, he resumed his education at Bhilai’s Kalyan College.

Entering BJP’s Yuva Morcha propelled Agarwal into state politics. His rise to state minister in 1986 and subsequent appointment as state vice-president in 1988 underscored his leadership and dedication. Notably, his protest against Arjun Singh in 1988, symbolized by a black flag demonstration, drew widespread attention and solidified his political stature.

Arjun Singh: Controversies and Confrontations in Chhattisgarh’s Political History

During the period when Chhattisgarh was still part of Madhya Pradesh, tensions ran high as the BJP announced its opposition to the visiting Chief Minister Arjun Singh’s scheduled visit to Raipur. Ahead of Singh’s arrival, most BJP leaders found themselves either under house arrest or in police custody.

Amidst this political turmoil, Brijmohan Agarwal made a bold statement of protest. As Arjun Singh’s open jeep passed through Raipur’s Malviya Road, Agarwal threw a black cloth towards him near Kotwali Chowk, hitting Singh directly. This act of provocation led to Agarwal and his companions being lathi-charged by the police, and Agarwal himself was arrested and subsequently jailed.

Upon his release, Agarwal set out on a tour from Raipur to Surguja. Two years later, boost up by party support, he contested and won a ticket from Raipur. His electoral victory over Swarupchand Jain, a ten-year Congress MLA, marked a pivotal moment in Raipur’s political landscape, solidifying his influence and reshaping the city’s political trajectory.

Back then, Raipur was divided into two assembly constituencies, Raipur city and Raipur rural, unlike the current four constituencies.

In 1990, Brijmohan Agrawal achieved a remarkable victory from Raipur city, in his first attempt, he was appointed as a state minister in the Madhya Pradesh government, signaling a swift rise in his political career.

From that point onward, Agrawal’s path was marked by continuous success. He served as the MLA of Raipur for an impressive 33 years, winning elections a total of eight times. Following his tenure as an MP, he held the distinguished position of being the most influential minister within the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, where he played a pivotal role in shaping state policies and governance.

When Narendra Modi faced backlash

Brijmohan Agarwal, who rose to prominence as the BJP’s most influential leader post the formation of Chhattisgarh, anticipated being chosen as the leader of the largest opposition party.

On 13 December 2000, BJP’s central observer Narendra Modi visited the party office at Rajbandha Ground to finalize the opposition leader selection.

While a meeting was underway inside, Brijmohan Agarwal’s supporters outside were gearing up for celebrations. However, in consultation with influential leader Lakhiram Agarwal, the central leadership decided to nominate tribal leader Nand Kumar Sai as the opposition leader.

Interestingly, Brijmohan Agarwal himself was made to propose Nand Kumar Sai’s name. Upon learning that he was not chosen, chaos erupted among Agarwal’s supporters. The BJP office was vandalized and set on fire.

The situation escalated to such an extent that Narendra Modi and other leaders had to hide in a room for safety. Following this incident, Brijmohan Agarwal was even temporarily suspended from the party.

Despite initial actions, the party eventually took away his suspension, allowing him to return.
In the later years, his name frequently resurfaced in political discussions as a potential Chief Minister.

A Surprising Lok Sabha Ticket

In a surprising move during the recent elections, Brijmohan Agarwal was given a Lok Sabha ticket, which shocked many. Although it was certain that he would win, his supporters questioned the decision to shift him from state to central politics.

Despite their concerns, he faced the challenge of winning with a substantial margin. He succeeded, becoming one of the ten candidates in the country to win with the highest margin of votes.

Speculations arose that he would be appointed as a minister at the Centre. However, instead of Brijmohan Agarwal, Tokhan Sahu, a first-time MP from Chhattisgarh, was made a minister of state, leading to further speculation. Some whispered that this political sidelining was linked to the events of December 13, 2000.

A Friend to Friends

In politics, having enemies is inevitable, but Brijmohan Agarwal’s image is that of a friend to friends. Regardless of political affiliations, his friends are everywhere. Understanding the depth of these relationships is challenging, but those in the know say Agarwal is always ready to help his friends in every possible way. His friends reciprocate, though political movements continue amidst this companionship.

The deep friendship between former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress and Brijmohan Agarwal has been a topic of discussion in political circles. It is said in Raipur that Brijmohan Agarwal has always avoided political moves that could harm his friendships. This balance of maintaining friendships while navigating politics is why, despite allegations, investigations, and corruption reports, no action has ever been taken against him.

A large section believes that party leaders have attempted to embroil Brijmohan Agarwal in such allegations. He is known as the most accessible leader in the state. A testament to his availability is the always-open main gate of his house, where a crowd gathers from morning until late at night.

Old paan shop owners in the city are still aware of exactly what their beloved ‘Birju bhaiya’ or ‘Mohan bhaiya’ likes to have in his paan. His nightly rounds of gossiping with old friends on the street have continued for years. He makes a point to attend weddings or any events, happy or sad, in his constituency.

However, all this is now a thing of the past.

What Next!

With the resignation of Brijmohan Agarwal, who had been the center of Raipur politics for four decades, from the assembly and the cabinet, it is clear that his relationship with Chhattisgarh assembly politics has been severed. However, he had made an effort to keep his ministerial post intact for at least the next six months. He had clearly stated this in his statements, but the very next day after resigning from the assembly, he had to resign from the ministerial post too.

Some speculate that, like Raman Singh, Brijmohan Agarwal might someday be sent from the centre to become the state’s Chief minister. Others believe he was made an MP to fill the gap of upper-caste leaders at the centre. However, questions arise about whether the status of an MP is greater than that of an MLA and minister, especially when even a minister has limited influence in the Modi regime.

One argument is that he will be given a significant party position, potentially as the party president, which would frame his move to central politics as an achievement. In Modi-Shah’s politics, nothing is impossible. However, if this does not happen, transitioning from an MLA-Minister to an MP could be seen as a demotion for Brijmohan Agarwal, a concern since day one.

This situation has led some to recall Brijmohan Agarwal’s loss-making business ventures, such as his fan and iron shop, suggesting a similar outcome in his political career.