Both ruling BJP and Congress were in full by-poll campaign mode in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, attacking each other vehemently and trying to woo the electorate with announcements and promises.
In Bhander of Datia, on last day of four-day campaign tour in Gwalior-Chambal region, Rajya Sabha member Jyotiraditya Scindia took the attack against Congress—his former party—a step further by saying that ex-CM Kamal Nath and Rajya Sabha colleague Digvijaya Singh were the traitors and not them (Scindia and his supporters who left Congress).
This is the first time that Scindia has openly responded to the traitor labelling campaign of the Congress against him and ex-MLAs who left the party to architect the fall of government in March this year.
Scindia said that he did not have political but personal connections with Bhander since early age and he will serve the people for his entire life. He said that people of the region did not merely vote for Congress last time, but also gave its heart, love and confidence and that is why Congress won 26 out of the 34 seats in Gwalior-Chambal. “Kamal Nath could become the chief minister just because of this region. But after becoming CM, he did not even step out of the state secretariat. We are not traitors. Nath and Digvijaya Singh are. They have ditched the people and will be taught a good lesson by them.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Kamal Nath sought votes in the name of Scindia, but became the groom (CM) himself. “He (Nath) has never seen village bylanes or farm roads. He does not have any inkling about poverty and diseases. He is an outsider who cannot be trusted. When he was in power, he saw nothing but now he is visiting farms with destroyed crops when he has lost his chair,” Chouhan said.
Power bills to be waived; recruitments freeze to be removed
The CM announced at Bhander that the freeze on recruitment will be removed and will soon start with recruitment to the police department. The CM also announced that pending power bills till August will be waived soon and people will have to pay only a month's bills now onwards. Also, the scheme of giving wheat for Re 1 per kg will be launched on September 16, so that no poor has to sleep empty stomach.
‘By-poll crucial for state’s future, stand for truth’
Meanwhile, in a public meeting in by-poll bound Sanwer of Indore, ex-chief minister and MP Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Kamal Nath said that the upcoming by-polls are crucial because they will decide the future of the state and it is for the people of the state to stand with the truth and for its better future.
In the meeting held at Arjun Baroda village, Nath campaigned for ex-MP Premchand Guddu who the Congress has announced as the Sanwer assembly candidate, most likely against Tulsi Silawat, the state water resources minister and close confidante of Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Nath launched the by-poll campaign on Friday by visiting the famous Pitambara temple at Nalkheda in Agar Malwa. He also held a public meeting in the district in support of Congress candidate Kunal Choudhary, just a day after announcing candidates for 15 of 27 by-poll bound constituencies.
On Saturday in Sanwer, the ex-CM asked the gathering whether he had sinned by launching a campaign against mafia and adulterators. “Why was my government felled through political trading? Will the state be identified by mafias, adulterators?” Nath asked.
He attacked the BJP and Chouhan, saying that they merely thrive on false announcements that are never fulfilled. He said that the Congress government initiated the Narmada water supply project for Sanwer, but the BJP government is misleading the government by making fresh announcements for the same.
He said that the state faces the challenges of high unemployment, economic slowdown, agriculture crisis and such issues. The Congress wants to ensure that these issues are addressed and he was sure people of the state will stand in favour of truth and a better future, if not for Kamal Nath and Congress.
