Madhya Pradesh: BJP’s missing ‘electrifying effects’ of fielding Union Ministers in poll
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan
By Manish Anand
New Delhi, October 17: While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is slated to come out with fifth and the final list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections this evening, the saffron outfit is learnt to have found that there are no “electrifying effects” of fielding the three Union Ministers in the state poll. The BJP is back to banking on the incumbent Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to build the party’s campaign in the poll-bound state.
“There are no electrifying effects on the ground after the BJP fielded the Union Ministers and the Lok Sabha MPs. The objective of fielding the Union Ministers is not seen yet, and the party will be banking on the chief minister to build the campaign around the Ladli scheme,” said a senior BJP functionary, while requesting anonymity.
The BJP had fielded three Union Ministers – Narendra Singh Tomar, Faggan Singh Kulaste, and Pralhad Singh Patel – for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. The BJP had also fielded Lok Sabha MPs to send out the loud message that the party may be looking for alternative leadership.
“The BJP’s poll mainstay is emerging out to be the Ladli scheme only. The chief minister has to amplify the scheme to counter the Congress’ cash-based guarantees. Chouhan, being the face of the Ladli scheme, is the natural campaigner for the BJP in the state,” added the BP functionary.
The Ladli scheme provides for monthly cash transfer in the bank accounts of women in Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan has promised that the state may enhance the monthly cash transfer to Rs 3000 if the resources are arranged. The BJP’s poll campaign in MP so far is revolving around the Ladli scheme.
“The Congress will definitely go aggressive in selling its poll plank of the cash transfer to the people. The BJP’s principal challenge is to see through the Congress’ promises of guarantees,” said another senior BJP functionary.
By fielding the Union Ministers, the BJP was seen within the political circle to be promoting the speculation that the party may not back Chouhan for another tenure as the chief minister of the state in the event the party wins the Assembly elections. The BJP had finally nominated Chouhan to contest the Assembly election from his traditional Budhni seat in the fourth list.
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