Watch | BJP leader wears shoes after 6 years, former CM Shivraj shares emotional video

Bhopal: In a heartwarming visual, former Mhya Presh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was seen making a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker from state wear shoes on Saturday, December 23. 

BJP’s Anuppur district unit chief in Mhya Presh Ramdas Puri h vowed in 2017 not to wear footwear till party forms a government in state. BJP failed to form a government after 2018 assembly elections. 

As a result he didn't wear shoes for six long years, until saffron party secured a massive victory in 2023 and Mohan Yav was sworn in as chief minister of state succeeding Shivraj Singh Chouhan. On Saturday, in presence of Shivraj Singh Chouhan Ramdas Puri started wearing shoes.

Chouhan said that Puri stopped wearing footwear in 2017 and decided that till BJP comes to power in state, he will not wear it. "Puri ji is a hardworking and dedicated party worker, who h given up wearing shoes and slippers since 2017. For six years, he remained barefoot in every season - summer, winter or rain. His resolution has been fulfilled. We all requested that now resolution has been fulfilled and you should start wearing shoes," said Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 

BJP failed to form a government after 2018 assembly elections. But even after party came back to power in 2020 (after Kamal Nath-led Congress government collapsed), Puri did not start wearing shoes, Chouhan said in a video posted on his official X account.

In last month's assembly elections, BJP registered a landslide victory by bagging 163 of 230 assembly seats, and retained power in central state.