Power politics takes centrestage in MP

In addition, the state is getting a 1,100 MW from the National Thermal Power Corporation and is buying 200 MW from the Power Trading Corporation. Even this totals up to less than 3,000 MW in a state where off-peak demand is 4,300 MW which goes up to 5,200 MW during peak hours.

Someone had to sacrifice and the state has been resorting to large-scale power cuts in rural areas which spend more hours with lights off than with lights on.

After repeated complaints in the Cabinet over the growing resentment in villages, with ministers unable to even tour their constituencies, it was decided that major towns, including Bhopal, will now share the burden. They will have an additional two hours of scheduled cuts between 11 pm and 6 am.

In addition to the scheduled five-hour power cuts, there are a number of unscheduled power cuts on a daily basis.

The BJP is making the most of the opportunity and has called a series of bandhs throughout the state. Even though FIRs have been registered against many of the party leaders, they have been successful in mobilising huge crowds.

According to a police spokesperson, FIRs have been registered against BJP leaders Narendra Singh Khushwa and Ajit Singh Bhadoria in Bhind after a demonstration on May 15 led to stone-pelting at the Collectors’ residence.

An FIR was also registered against BJP MLA Jayant Mallaya in Damoh on Saturday after a demonstration and a procession through the town resulted in stone-pelting on some vehicles.

The same night, a case was registered against Bhopal BJP president Bhagwan Das Sabnani and others after a mob entered an MPEB sub-station and destroyed property following a power cut late at night.

Capitalising on the public mood, Bharti, who has just shed her old rath for a new one previously used by Narendra Modi and Parkash Singh Badal, has sharpened her attack on Digvijay Singh.

Speaking at a rally today, she said: ‘‘Even children have come out on the streets. They are not BJP workers. Meanwhile, the CM is heading for America. While the people of the state suffer the heat and the power cuts, the CM will enjoy the cool breeze of America. This is shameful.’’ Digvijay is heading for the US early next month.

For the moment, the heat is on, and for the first time since the start of Bharti’s yatra, with the cake episode and the Kedarnath yatra forgotten, the pressure is on Singh to be on the defensive.