BJP has an image problem

This was preceded by an embarrassing incident of a minister caught stealing power for nearly eight years. By some strange coincidence, the theft came to light when the chief minister was announcing his government’s decision to withdraw cases of power thefts against farmers. Ramdayal Ahirwar, who was recently inducted as minister of state for home, did not have a valid electricity connection at his home in Chhatarpur district. The veteran leader was forced to apply for a proper connection once the matter became public.

It all began when the minister’s son beat up a policeman and vandalised his house. Laxmi Ahirwar, a Nagar Panchayat president, was angry because the cop had refused to arrange for vehicles to welcome the minister. A power failure a few days later angered the minister’s son and he thrashed the cop when he refused to restore electricity. It did not take long for the public to know that the minister did not have a valid power connection.

Ajay Vishnoi’s resignation after the Income Tax department raids on the properties of his brother and of other health department officials is the latest embarrassment for the BJP government. The raids had revealed how corrupt officials in the health department colluded with suppliers and manufacturers to siphon off money meant for schemes in rural areas. The department deals with grants—running into hundreds of crores—from the central government and international funding agencies.

The IT raids had followed similar action against then director of medical services, Dr Yogiraj Sharma, and his associates last year. As the IT sleuths pieced together details of properties amassed by Sharma and his accomplices, it turned out that the racket was in excess of Rs 100 crore.

While Sharma was allowed to escape with a minor punishment—he was asked to take compulsory retirement—the government did little to punish others as irregularities continued without any check. Vishnoi refused to quit, arguing his premises were not raided, but the party high command forced to him to resign.

Emboldened by Vishnoi’s resignation, the Opposition came out with a list of ministers who are facing corruption charges and cases against whom are pending with the Lokayukta. With the state government’s image taking a beating, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan could do little but watch as he is himself in trouble over the ‘dumper scam’.

No wonder the Congress has revised its poll issues: corruption is now the focal point of its campaign.