Modi heats up MP poll battle
ATTACK Kicking off his campaign in the state, PM calls Cong a party of one family, asks people to choose BJP for their future
SHAHDOL: With an attack on the Congress party and a defence of both the central government and state governments’ records, particularly with regard to welfare for the poor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his campaign for the assembly elections in the crucial state of Madhya Pradesh.
He asked voters in Shahdol to make a choice between the rule by four generations of the same family versus four years of his government; and between 55 years of Congress rule in MP and 15 years of Bharatiya Janata Party’s rule in the state.
“This election is not to elect an MLA; it is not to elect a party; it is notaboutwhowillform government; it is about your future vision of Madhya Pradesh,” he said.
Madhya Pradesh has a 230member strong assembly and votes on November 28. The Bharatiya Janata Party is battling three-term anti-incumbency, agrarian distress, dissatisfied core voters and an energised Congress party, led by Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia in the state. But BJP’s CM, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, remains a fairly popular state figure; his government’s record on roads and power compared to that of past Congress governments has given the BJP an edge in the past; and Chouhan has sought to address rural discontent with welfare schemes.
MP is also the largest of the five states going for polls and contributes the largest number of MPs, 29, to the Lok Sabha.
Modi kicked off his campaign in the Vindhya region which has 30 seats. In 2013, BJP won 16 of these seats, the Congress bagged 12 and the Bhaujan Samaj Party won two seats.
Modi, in particular, addressed the tribal belt of the region, wooing voters of Shahdol, Anuppur, and Umaria districts where seven of the eight seats are reserved for tribals. Voters from assembly constituencies of the neighbouring Dindori district also attended the rally.
The PM made a specific appeal to adivasis. “I am just coming from the adivasi region of Chhattisgarh. In all those states where there is a high proportion of tribals, they have played a major role in electing BJP governments repeatedly.”
The PM’s focus was on the concrete steps taken on delivery of services and welfare to the poor. He focused on rural housing, electrification of households and the construction of toilets as significant achievements of his government. He also praised Chouhan’s work in infrastructure, upliftment of women, and agriculture.
Chouhan was present and spoke before the PM. He took on Congress’s slogan in the MP elections, ‘gussa aa raha hai’ (I am getting angry) and claimed the Congress was getting angry because in 15 years, the BJP had accomplished so much in every sphere.
“Congress was born for a family, lives for a family, struggles for a family and for the sake of the family it jeopardises the country’s future,” Modi told a gathering in Gwalior later on Friday.
State Congress media in charge Shobha Oza said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi can never understand how Congress took part in the freedom struggle and how this family has made sacrifices for the nation before and after Independence. The family lost two great leaders, (former Prime Ministers) Indiraji (Gandhi) and Rajivji (Gandhi) for keeping the nation united. Unlike Congress, the RSS people never took part in the freedom struggle and never sacrificed anything for nation building.”
Modi will address gatherings at Chhindwara and Indore on November 18. He is expected address 25 rallies in five pollbound states.