Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh speaks to R KRISHNA DAS on the forthcoming Assembly election and his party's chances.
You were credited with the BJP’s success in the 2003 Assembly election. But retaining power is a different ball game. Do you see any anti-incumbency factor in the state in the coming election?
Not at all. There is no anti-incumbency wave against the BJP-led government in Chhattisgarh. People have seen a new phase of development in the last five years. In the 2003 election, terror, fear and insecurity were the main issues. This has changed and development has emerged as the core election issue this time. Now it is up to the people to choose if they want to return to the regime of terror, fear and insecurity or vote for the BJP for another phase of development in the state.
If anti-incumbency is not a factor, why has the BJP dropped about 40 per cent of its sitting MLAs?
Party organisations select candidates on the basis of inputs from the workers at the ground level. New faces shall also get an opportunity and this is why about 40 per cent sitting MLAs have been changed.
Are the achievements of your government big enough for the people to vote for the BJP?
It is up to the people of Chhattisgarh to endorse. Our vision for development is positive. In fact, one cannot be satisfied with what has been done for the people. Development works in the state have just started. The previous government (of the Congress) had put the state on a negative development track.
How do you envisage the political battle in the state this time as compared with the last election?
In 2003, the prestige and pride of Chhattisgarh were at stake due to the Congress government. Mushrooming of private universities, dirty political gimmicks and other factors painted a gloomy picture of the state. Now Chhattisgarh is known for development. If the state is recognised today, it is for zero power cuts, investment proposals and developmental issues.
But it is alleged that the state’s industrial sector is down in the dumps with no major investment on the ground.
The ongoing global recession has cast its shadow on some projects in the state. But the state has taken a big leap forward in power and cement sectors while many existing facilities like that of Bhilai Steel Plant, Jindal and Balco have major expansion plans. Even NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation) has started work for a steel plant in Bastar. As far as Tata Steel is concerned, land acquisition is on in Bastar.
Congress leaders claim your government has exhausted the rich mineral assets of the state by recommending mines for private parties.
In the larger interest of the state, the local industry and investors, the state government will continue to demand mines for captive use. As far as this allegation is concerned, the state government can only recommend. It is the Centre that allots the mines. In the matter of coal mines, the Centre did not pay any heed to the state’s recommendations.
The annual budget outlay of the state has been increasing during the last five years and has now reached about Rs 19,000 crore. But most departments failed to use even half the amount in the last fiscal.
It is not so. At the end of the (financial) year, most departments had utilised 85 per cent of the Budget allocated to them. Some projects are long term and hence fund utilisation in their case cannot be taken into account annually. The state government has been of the view that financial constrains will not come in its way of development works.
How confident are you of retaining the support of the tribals?
The BJP government has done a lot for the tribals and is confident that it will get their support this time also. The government took initiatives to establish peace in Bastar and Sarguja (both tribal-dominated pockets) where poor tribals were facing the Naxal problem. New universities were opened in both the regions and infrastructure development was taken as top priority in the tribal pockets.
What do you think you have left incomplete in these five years and will take up on priority if the BJP retains power, especially as the party has already projected you as chief minister-in-waiting?
The Naxal issue. My top priority will be to end the Naxalite problem and establish peace (in the red zone) besides taking up development works in tribal areas that are inaccessible. Moreover, we will give top priority to developing the state’s irrigation potential, reduce the infant mortality rate and increase per capita income to take it on a par with the national average. Road construction and other infrastructure development will also be on the top on our preference list.
