From a speed of 180 words per minute (wpm) in 2008, Chouhan now fires 199 to 202 words every 60 seconds. Modi's average speed while replying to questions in the assembly or random speeches at rallies fluctuate between 120 to 140 wpm, say experts.
Uma Bharti is a close second to Chouhan with 160-180 wpm, according to Vidhan Sabha reporters (government stenographers), who record minute-by-minute proceedings. Chouhan's maximum speed hit 202 wpm during his reply to questions on MP farmers' crop damage in a hailstorm on March 5.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee's historic speech during the confidence motion in Parliament on May 27, 1996, after his 13-day government fell, clocked 100 wpm. Congress ex-CMs Arjun Singh, Motilal Vora, S C Shukla and P C Sethi had an identical speed of 80 to 100 wpm.
Reporters feel Chouhan still has to practice harder to beat John F Kennedy who holds the record as the fastest public speaker with a speed of 327 wpm in a December 1961 speech. "We took two slots of 5 minutes each from his 40-minute verbatim speech in the assembly. Average wpm was 199 to 202, which is the maximum recorded in the assembly so far," said a senior officer at the assembly's reporting branch.
"Chouhan is definitely the fastest speaker. He has raised his speed by around 20 to 40 words in the last five years," says SN Gaur, who has 30 years' experience of noting down verbatim speeches in the assembly. "After decades of experience in high-speed shorthand, we can easily analyse the speed of delivery."
Mohan Manwani, reporter in assembly since 1985, says, "It's not easy to note down Chouhan's speech. But, we manage to do without mistakes following clarity in his speech."
Chouhan fires 199 to 202 words every 60 seconds. Modi's average speed can touch up to 140 words a minute. Vajpayee, of course, is miles behind with 100 a minute.
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