Wasn't even a sarpanch when I was made CM: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

BHOPAL: In a candid admission on the eve of national president Amit Shah’s visit on Wednesday, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told TOI that he is ready to handle any responsibility given by his party, recalling that the BJP high command had made him chief minister despite knowing that he had no administrative experience. In an

exclusive interview

to TOI, he said: “Mein to sarpanch bhi kabhi nahin raha (I was never even a sarpanch). I had never thought I would become chief minister one day. I was suddenly asked at the parliamentary board meeting one day to take up the responsibility. It raised many an eyebrow. But once I took over, there was no looking back.”

Chouhan, who is the longest serving chief minister of

Madhya Pradesh

, said, his sole aim was to improve the life of others. “After becoming the chief minister, my only target was to help the needy, and focus on the growth of the state, which has been achieved to a large extent through the implementation of schemes like Ladli Lakshmi, Kanya Vivah and Medhavi Chhatra,” he said. Whatever responsibilities his party gave him, he delivered to expectation, he added.

Looking forward to party chief Amit Shah’s visit as an energizer ahead of the 2018 assembly election, he said: “He has proved to be an excellent leader. Under his leadership, the party has become the world’s largest organization. BJP state workers are looking up to him for guidance.” Shah has been to the state four to five times but this is the first time he will be staying for three days, he said, adding: “We are all looking forward to his visit.”

Asked if the farmers’ agitation will have any impact on the assembly polls, he said: “None whatsoever. Barring Mandsaur and Ratlam, the violence did not spread to other parts including Bundelkhand, Chambal, Mahakoshal, and Gwalior. A handful of Congress workers tried to take undue advantage of the situation, but failed. We have taken steps to ease farmers’ problems. We have procured onion and even pulses and soybean. We will continue to ensure farmers get a good price for their produce.”

“The death of farmers (in police firing in Mandsaur) pained me,” he said. “Dard toh bahut hua.” In his first admission that he gave the order to neutralize dreaded dacoit Lalit Patel, Chouhan said: “He had burnt three men alive. I said, it’s me or him. There will be no dacoits in Madhya Pradesh. I gave the orders to end his reign of terror and police gunned him down. “It doesn’t hurt at all when a criminal is killed. But the farmers’ death pained me. MP government has always been on the forefront of farmers’ welfare.”

Chouhan pointed out that his government has launched an app — the only one of its kind in India — that empowers farmers. “With the Girdavari app, farmers will be able to crosscheck and verify the amount of crops recorded by patwari. Only then will it be registered in the land records. This will bring about transparency,” he said.

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