BJP will form fourth successive govt in MP: Shivraj

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would emerge victorious in the assembly polls and form a government for the fourth consecutive time in the state.

The BJP will achieve a clear majority in the 230-member Vidhan Sabha. Under the Jan Aashirwad Yatra, I reached approximately 180 assembly constituencies and journeyed to the remainder 50 later. Some areas were visited twice by me. My claim is based on an analysis of the constituencies,? he told UNI.

Responding to a question regarding the presence of rebel candidates, the BJP bigwig averred that the number of such mutineers was not extremely high and, though the renegade stance of former ministers Sartaj Singh and Ramkrishna Kusmaria hogged media limelight, almost all other dissenters were pacified.

Mr Chouhan, who participated at about ten election meetings in the Gwalior-Chambal region yesterday, he said that almost all the seats from that area would witness wins by saffron party nominees.  

I am addressing an average of eight to ten meetings daily besides maintaining contact over phone, etc with district units. I and other senior BJP leaders review the statewide situation every day,? he said.

In the course of poll rallies, the Chief Minister has been raining fire on Congress President Rahul Gandhi besides lambasting former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh's tenure. He pointed out that the Congress' Madhya Pradesh President Kamal Nath was in Mr Singh's Council of Ministers and every decision pertaining to the Electricity Board was taken on Mr Nath's advice.

Replying to another query, Mr Chouhan said that the principal-opposition Congress' leaders were employing discourteous language when levelling allegations against him but he would  remain within limits and the populace would give a fitting reply.

The state's fiscal situation is in complete control,? he said. In the context of Congress charges vis-a-vis the regime being under a debt of Rs 1,75,000 crore, the Chief Minister said that finances are imperative for development work and their proper utilisation is ensured. The debt is within the limits prescribed by the Centre's Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003.

   ?During Congress rule, there was paucity of funds to even pay officials' salaries,? the Chief Minister said.

   Mr Chouhan, who is trying his fortune from Sehore district's Budhni, said that the voter in that constituency is fighting the election on the Chief Minister's ?behalf? therefore he is busy campaigning in other areas. He plans on undertaking door-to-door contact in Budhni once campaigning concludes. Former Union Minister Arun Yadav is pitted against Mr Chouhan there.

UNI