Madhya Pradesh assembly elections: Vikas, more than Mandir, is real issue in MP, says CM Shivraj

BHOPAL: Vikas, more than Mandir, is the real issue in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told TOI in an exclusive interview on Friday.
Asked why he is silent on the Ram Mandir issue when other BJP stalwarts are raising it aggressively, and whether it’s a factor in the MP election, the CM said: “Mandir apni jagah hai. Madhya Pradesh mein mudda hai vikas (the temple has its own place, but in MP the issue is development).Vikas and Vichar. We are going to the people with promise of more development and good intentions.”
He promised that his government will create 10 lakh job opportunities a year if voted back to power for a fourth term. Asked if he would become CM again or would accept a bigger role in Delhi, he said: “MP, I'll be only in MP.”
He denied that there is more rebellion in the BJP ranks this time, saying: “It happens in every election. A few disgruntled leaders express their resentment and we persuade them.” When pointed out that this time, there are BJP rebels in as many as 30 seats and that Congress has had more success than BJP in putting a lid on dissent, the CM said: “No, there is no problem. The baaghis won’t affect us.”
AICC chief Rahul Gandhi’s temple run won’t affect BJP either, he asserted. “I don’t mix religion with politics. Religion is a very personal matter. You feel it in your heart. But they are playing politics with it. That’s not my style, and it won’t work for them.”
He is confident that BJP will return to power with a “handsome majority”, but refused to put a number. Pressed further, he said: “Our target is winning 200 seats in the assembly.” And what about Lok Sabha. “All twenty-nine,” he smiled.
On the perception that a resurgent Congress is putting up a tough fight, he said: “Congress has no issues to take to the people. That is why they target me and my family. We have worked for every segment of society, be it the poor, Dalits, minorities or underprivileged. The Sambal Yojana will transform life of ordinary people in Madhya Pradesh.”
Later, at an election meeting at Amarwada in PCC chief Kamal Nath’s stronghold Chhindwara, he took a dig at the Congress ad campaign ‘gussa ata hai’. “Congress is angry because I built roads where they had left dirt tracks, because I helped poor people light up their dark homes, because this lean and thin son of a farmer has been chief minister for 13 years, thanks to the love of people. They are angry because of that, and they are spending sleepless nights, singing ‘karwate badalte rahe, saari raat hum,” he said.