Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Outgoing Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan crying after BJP picked Mohan Yadav as the new CM following the state elections.
Fact
Viral video dates back to July 2019, shows Chouhan crying over the death of his adopted daughter.
Several social media users are sharing a video, claiming it shows senior leader and outgoing Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan crying following BJP’s “betrayal” by announcing Mohan Yadav as the chief minister-elect in Madhya Pradesh.
The BJP retained power in Madhya Pradesh in the November 17 polls, winning 163 seats in the 230-member assembly, after which the party picked Yadav, a three-time MLA from Ujjain, as the new chief minister, denying Chouhan a record fifth term in office.
The archived versions of the tweets can be seen here and here.
Fact Check
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes of the video, which led us to this News Tak report in Hindi, dated July 19, 2019, stating that Chouhan was crying bitterly after the death of his adopted daughter. The report stated that Chouhan’s foster daughter Bharti had passed away in Vidisha district.
Taking a cue from this, we ran a relevant keyword search, which led us to this NDTV report on July 19, 2019, reiterating that former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s adopted daughter Bharti Verma passed away. Bharti’s husband Ravindra Verma reportedly said, “My wife was suffering from body weakness and was undergoing treatment. Today she vomited in the morning and after that, we took her to the district hospital, where she was declared brought dead. My marriage was conducted by former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last year.”
“Bharti was a former resident of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Sevashram – a home for orphan girls. The former Madhya Pradesh CM treated Bharti like his own daughter and had conducted her wedding ceremony during his term in office last year,” read an India Today report on July 19, 2019.
“Entire Chouhan family, including the former CM, his wife and son Kartikey, besides host of BJP leaders reached the Vidisha District Hospital in the evening, where both Chouhan and his wife broke into tears,” read the New Indian Express report, July 19, 2019, confirming that the viral video is not related to the events after the 2023 state elections.
Conclusion
2019 video of Madhya Pradesh’s outgoing CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan crying over the death of his foster daughter falsely linked to the 2023 state elections.
Result: False
Sources
Youtube video, News Tak, July 19, 2019
The New Indian Express report, July 19, 2019
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
