This MP election a battle between royals, people: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

BJP has set a target of 200 seats and I am sure that we will win more than that, says Chouhan

Maaf karo Maharaj, hamara neta toh Shivraj is the BJP's slogan in Madhya Pradesh this election. In a state where politics has been traditionally dominated by former kings — Digvijaya Singh was chief minister (CM) of Madhya Pradesh for 10 years, the late Congress stalwart Madhavrao Scindia hailed from here, and his son Jyotiraditya is a CM hopeful if the Congress comes to power — Shivraj Singh Chouhan, 59, is a people's CM. But after 15 years, acute agrarian crisis, joblessness, women's safety issues, is he still the man Madhya Pradesh wants? In an interview with Himani Kothari, Chouhan says he expects nothing less than an absolute majority. Edited excerpts:

The BJP has a separate manifesto for women in Madhya Pradesh. Women have traditionally voted for you. Do you feel this time also you will get their support?

Why not? My connect with the women of the state is not political, it is emotional. With me contesting election, it is their brother, their son, their uncle (mama, as the CM is fondly called) going to the polls. It’s our duty to take care of our mothers, sisters and daughters. Even when I was not holding any key post in the government, I used to facilitate the wedding of young girls. My father and my grandfather had supported the weddings of several girls in our village. It is a tradition for us. That’s the reason we have released a separate manifesto for them. Our intention is to achieve the highest level in terms of women empowerment and development. The performance of our government has inspired the faith of the female population of the state. We are very certain about getting their wholehearted support.

Poll pundits are saying there is anti-incumbency this time and the Congress has an edge. Your take?

We have performed exceptionally well in every aspect of governance. We have changed the lives of millions of people. We have worked for the welfare of the weaker sections of society. I assure you that there is “pro-incumbency” and not “anti- incumbency” in the state.

The Congress has pitched Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Digvijaya Singh against you. From the BJP, you are the only face. Is it you versus the rest of them?

It’s not me versus them, it’s the Raja-Maharaja-Dhanraja trio versus the people of Madhya Pradesh. It’s Bimaru versus Samriddh Madhya Pradesh and I am sure that the people of the state, aspiring to a Samriddh Madhya Pradesh, are bound to win.

The Congress manifesto has promised a lot for the cow. Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been visiting temples across the country. How far do you feel the Congress has been successful in branding itself as a Hindu party? And will that affect the BJP?

The Congress did nothing for the protection of the cow in the last 60 years. Now during the time of elections, with the intent to misguide the people, they are trying to become gau-bhakts (cow worshippers). It is well known that the BJP is the only party which works for the protection of cows. We must not forget it’s the Congress that coined the term “Hindu terror”. Congress rebranding itself is just like a cat going to haj after slaying a hundred mice.

The farmer agitation in MP had made national headlines last year. Has their condition improved?

There was no farmer agitation in Madhya Pradesh. Whatever happened in Mandsaur last year was a localised non-farmer issue. We have done remarkable work in agriculture and for the welfare of farmers. I am working constantly to strengthen the financial condition of farmers by providing agricultural tools and facilities so that through farming they could become economically independent. We have provided lots of benefits, which is more helpful to them than loan waiver. In the last year alone, we have given benefits worth Rs 320 billion to farmers under various schemes. We have started the Krishak Rin Samadhan Yojana to solve the problem of agricultural loans and provided loans at a zero per cent interest rate. We are committed to covering the input cost for the small and marginal farmers, for which we have promised a scheme in our manifesto.

We started the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana to protect them against price risk. We bought onions last year at Rs 8/kg when prices hit rock bottom. There is a wave of happiness and satisfaction among the farmers of Madhya Pradesh.

Industrial growth has been another concern in Madhya Pradesh. How do you plan to address that if the BJP comes back to power?

We are planning to set up more factories and industries in the state. We are in the top 10 in “ease of doing business”. We have created an industry-friendly ecosystem in MP with our new policy initiatives. In the past 15 years, an unprecedented Rs 2 trillion investment took shape in MP. More than 668,000 micro, small and medium enterprises were established, serving as self-employment and employment generation centres in MP. Many big industries are showing an interest in setting up plants in the state. I assure you that MP will set record industrial growth in the coming years.

There is a sense that the Centre’s steps like demonetisation and the goods and services tax (GST) and also its inability to bring down petrol prices has hurt you in the state. Your comments.

Demonetisation and the GST are two important steps taken by the Central government for the welfare of the people. We will get fruitful results in the coming days. These steps will strengthen the economy and take the country several steps ahead.

How many seats will you give the BJP in MP this time?

We have set a target of 200 seats and I am sure that we will win more than that.

Read our full coverage on Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2018