Madhya Pradesh is also among the five states where assembly elections are to be held this year. These elections are being considered as the semi-finals of the Lok Sabha elections to be held next year. Therefore, these elections are very important for both BJP and Congress. The opposition alliance ‘India’ is also going to have a real test. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked about how BJP will deal with these challenges. Exclusive conversation with BollywoodWallah’s National Bureau Chief Anjani Kumar Singh of. Here are the highlights.
Strong women, strong society is the theme of your government. How much change has taken place in the direction of women empowerment?
Our government is already working on women empowerment. After coming to power in 2006, we brought Ladli Laxmi Yojana. Today 40 lakh daughters are associated with it. Earlier the sex ratio in the state was very bad. Daughters were being killed in the womb. He was considered a burden. I had seen this problem since childhood. After coming into government, we decided that daughters will be millionaires in the state. Now it has been extended to be implemented in educational institutions including colleges, medical colleges also. We made a marriage plan for the girl. Gave 50 percent reservation to women in local body elections. Gave 30 percent reservation for women in police recruitment. Today, daughters in police uniform are handling law and order very well. Women were given 50 percent reservation in teacher recruitment. Stamp duty on purchasing property in the name of women was reduced to one percent. The result was that today 45% of the properties in Madhya Pradesh are purchased in the name of women. Under the Laadli scheme, providing employment to women, making them millionaires, linking them with self-help groups, arrangements for security, health, education etc., all those things have been included so that women become self-reliant and empowered.
Rabi politics has started as soon as the elections come. What effect will this have on the financial health of the state?
Women empowerment is not rabid politics. Earlier, 912 daughters were born for every 1000 sons in the state, today this ratio has come down to 956. We want to see the day when the ratio of sons and daughters is equal. Now toll tax will be run by women and they will get 30% share of the collection. My commitment is that every woman should have an income of at least Rs 10 thousand per month.
A lot of announcements are being made by Congress also?
Congress has nothing to do or protest. They just want to get votes. That’s why whatever comes to her mind, she announces it.
Last time you had announced one or the other scheme for every person from birth till death, yet you did not get absolute majority.
Try talking to people, you will get the answer. Last time some such announcements including loan waiver were made by the Congress, which had an impact on the people for some time, but everyone knows that the BJP got more votes.
You have been the CM for a long time, but now there is talk of collective leadership.
This is good. In Uttar Pradesh also, elections were fought under collective leadership. In Karnataka also, five yatras were conducted under collective leadership. Here also they are coming out in collective leadership, so what is the harm in it?
Will this cause confusion regarding the CM’s face?
There will be no confusion. Our job is to serve the public. As a disciplined worker of the party, whatever work is given, I do it with full dedication.
As elections approach, many storytellers are emerging. Congress people are also joining. Congress seems to be leaning towards soft Hindutva.
The tradition of storytellers is very old in this country. It is a matter of happiness that the old tradition of storytelling is moving forward. Earlier it was a crime to be called a Hindu. Today PM Narendra Modi changed the political agenda of the country. Congress is showing off something like this just to get votes.
There is dissatisfaction among many people who came to BJP from Congress. Many people are leaving the party.
This is a natural process. The promises and promises made during the elections were not fulfilled. Due to this breach of promise, Congress people left the party and joined BJP under the leadership of Scindia ji. Many people came with us.
Congress has made many allegations against your government. Congress did the same in Karnataka and BJP suffered huge losses in the elections there. In such a situation, how do you see the challenge of ‘India’ alliance?
Congress has come down to filth. She is scared to see the massive turnout in favor of the BJP in the state. He thinks that by telling a lie again and again it will become true, but the public knows everything.
India alliance has announced to give a common candidate.
BJP will get full mandate. The opposition has neither any ideology, nor thinking, nor any common agenda. They have united because there is an inundation in the country in favor of PM Modi. Secondly, there is also the fear that Modi ji has said that he will neither eat nor let him eat. The fear of going to jail has settled in the minds of opposition leaders.
Your image has been that of a soft leader, but at the same time you are also behaving quite hard and strictly.
See, when I became CM, dacoits and Naxalites were rampant here. As soon as I came, I had said that either dacoits will remain in the state or Shivraj will remain. Within six months the dacoits either surrendered or were killed. I am softer than a flower for the good and harsher than a thunderbolt for the wicked.
Your views on One Nation One Election?
I also have the same views as the party, because development work gets affected due to frequent elections.
Rohini commission report has come on OBC reservation. How do you see it?
I am with the decision of the party on this.
Will you mention UCC in your manifesto?
Whatever the party decides, we will bring it in our manifesto.
Congress is talking about bringing Karnataka’s model to Madhya Pradesh.
No model will work here. Only the development model will work, which is already working here.
What will be the main issue in the election?
There are only two factors – development and public welfare.
How many seats is the party expected to get in MP in the Lok Sabha elections?
Last time it got 28 out of 29 seats. This time we will get 29 out of 29.
What is your assessment regarding the assembly elections?
We will get the most seats. BJP will get absolute majority.
Migration is still a problem in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier the per capita income of Madhya Pradesh was Rs 11 thousand, today it is Rs one lakh. There has been a lot of progress in various fields in the state. Employment opportunities have also increased. Therefore there is no problem of migration in the state. Yes, people move here and there for better wages.
Where do you see yourself in the politics of the country in the next five years?
I will stay wherever the party puts me. I have to do whatever the party decides.