Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday washed the feet of a tribal youth on whom a man said to be linked to the BJP had urinated.

Madhya Pradesh is headed for elections later this year and the state is home to the largest number of tribes in the country. The tribal population stands at over 20 per cent, and out of the total 230 Assembly segments, 47 are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

Chouhan invited the tribal youth to his official residence in Bhopal, washed his feet, apologised to him, called him his friend and posted a video on Twitter.

The ruling BJP, which had finished behind the Congress in the last polls in a hung verdict, is said to be facing an uphill task this time.

In the last polls, of the 47 reserved segments, the BJP had won only 15 while the Congress secured 31. Apart from the 47 tribal-reserved seats, the tribal voters influence the outcome in over 30 constituencies. Of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state, six are reserved for tribals.