Like sugar in milk, those who joined from other parties became one with me
On March 23, SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN completed two years in office during his fourth term as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. A few weeks ago, he had become the longest serving BJP CM, overtaking former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh. Chouhan spoke to RAHUL NORONHA on the challenges in his fourth term, his preparations for the 2023 assembly poll and his newfound ‘Bulldozer Mama’ image. Excerpts from the interview:
Q. How has your fourth term as CM been different from previous ones, especially since a third of your cabinet this time consists of former Congress leaders?
A. The circumstances during the fourth term were very different due to Covid. A lockdown was imposed a day after I was sworn in. The coffers were empty, but we were able to overcome it with everyone’s help. I am happy that I have been able to work with (Jyotiraditya) Scindiaji and the group that came with him in the same way as I worked with my cabinet in the first, second or third terms. Not for a day have I felt that they have come from another party. Much like sugar dissolves in milk, they have become one with me in work.
Q. You have advocated a shift from agriculture to industry. Creation of jobs is a big issue in the country. What is being done on that front?
A. We are now focusing on value addition in agriculture and have identified one product per district. The idea is to enhance income in agriculture, but we are also aware that agriculture has limitations and we will have to shift to industry rapidly. Investment is coming in sectors such as textiles, semiconductors and auto parts, besides certain MSMEs. We are developing two expressways around which industrial clusters would be built and also planning an investor summit in early November. We have an ‘employment day’ every month, when we announce new employment made available. The focus now is to also create self-employment through schemes so that people become job providers rather than job seekers.
Q. Your previous terms were marked by social sector schemes such as Laadli Laxmi, which helped you win elections. But you haven’t announced any such scheme this term...
A. Many of the schemes we started such as the Teerth Darshan Yojana have been adopted by other state governments. There are 43 lakh beneficiaries of Laadli Laxmi and the first lot is now in Class XII. One has to think of various ways in which their future needs can be taken care of, which is why we are going to announce Laadli Laxmi 2.0. There are new initiatives too, including 18 for tribal communities. Provisions of the PESA (Panchayat Extension to
It’s not that I started using bulldozers only now. I’ve always said I’ll be soft on good people, but tough on those who are evil
The Congress is disintegrating, its leadership is in disarray. It does not have the potential to be a challenge
Scheduled Areas) Act are being implemented, community forest management is being announced, and revenue from timber would go to tribals. At the same time, the gaps in the old schemes are also being addressed.
Q. Are you attempting a transformation from ‘Shivraj Mama’ to ‘Bulldozer Mama’?
A. During my first term as CM, the state was under the terror of dacoit gangs. Back then, I had announced that either Shivraj Singh Chouhan or the dacoits will remain in the state. We didn’t publicise our successes then, but MP has been free of the scourge of dacoity for years. SIMI had an organised network, but we have dealt with that too, and Maoism is restricted to only a part of Balaghat district. So, it is not accurate to say I have started using bulldozers now. The previous measures were not discussed earlier. Probably the bulldozing here coincided with the UP election and made people draw a connection. I have always maintained that I will be soft on good people, but tough on those who are evil.
Q. Hindutva emerged as an important political plank in the UP election that the BJP won. Will religious issues dominate the MP election too?
A. Hindutva is never a political issue for us but a question of faith. However, there has been a big change due to the politics of appeasement practised by other parties. Earlier, calling yourself Hindu was considered narrow-minded and communal, but this narrative has changed. The BJP has been clear on this, but now Rahul Gandhi is practising Hindu rituals, Priyanka Gandhi is taking a dip in the Ganga, Akhilesh Yadav is speaking of Krishna Kanhaiya and (Arvind) Kejriwal is taking people on pilgrimages.
Q. You have been planting saplings every day for over a year now. You banned plastics and raised awareness about the environment through the Narmada parikrama. However, air and water pollution indices continue to deteriorate...
A. I believe we have to strike a balance between environment and development. I feel doing something in a disciplined way and routinely catches people’s attention. I was alone when I started with my ‘a sapling a day’ pledge last year, but now there is always a group with me. One has to distinguish among offenders against the environment. It seems unfair to book a deprived tribal for taking dry timber from the forest, but there is also the timber mafia that needs to be dealt with effectively.
Q. The BJP has embarked on Mission 51 at the booth level to enhance its vote share to 51 per cent. The Congress too has a strategy to build the party booth upwards. Will this pose a challenge to you?
A. The Congress is disintegrating and its leadership is in disarray. It does not have the potential to pose a challenge. A real majority is when a party gets more than 51 per cent votes and we are working on it. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s policies have drawn everyone to the BJP. Even Christianmajority states, where no one thought the BJP would win, are with the party.
Q. The BJP has been reminding beneficiaries of welfare schemes of what the government has done for them. You announced a waiver of electricity bills, which will result in a loss of Rs 2,250 crore to the exchequer. Is this good politics? Why do governments always reward defaulters and never those who pay their bills?
A. Everyone, including the poor, has a right over the country’s resources. But in reality, everyone doesn’t have access to these resources, which is what we are trying to correct. If the PM gives a house to the poor, which is his right, and the BJP government tells the beneficiary about it, what is wrong with it? It also creates awareness among people. If it’s a good thing to do, people will appreciate it. I feel it is fair to waive the bills for the Covid period as people had lost their livelihoods.
Q. Do you think anti-incumbency will make 2023 your toughest election?
A. Going by the mood in the nation, I think the party will do well in 2023. There is a pro-incumbency feeling due to the work done by the government. ■