In MP,desperate Congress versus cocky BJP

The basis for the sarcasm lies in trends seen in states with multiple parties or stronger regional parties.

The Congress had never before been out of power in Madhya Pradesh for a decade,and is desperately seeking a comeback. And the BJP,which had never ruled here for so long,regularly taunts the Congress saying when it loses a state election for the third time in a row it remains out of power forever.

The basis for the sarcasm lies in trends seen in states with multiple parties or stronger regional parties. MP,however,is essentially a bipolar state where,but for the last decade and a few short spells in the past,the Congress has always called the shots since 1956.

Occupying the opposition benches for such a long period has unnerved the Congress. The BJP has rubbed it in by commenting on grey-haired leaders. As if to answer back,the Congress has deputed Jyotiraditya Scindia to head its campaign committee,a position that usually translates into chief ministerial candidate.

The young leader has his task cut out. The BJP won in 2003 and 2008 by comfortable margins. The Congress nearly doubled its 2003 tally five years later,but it was way too short,while the BJP won most of the byelections held in between.

Scindias anointment has forced the BJP to alter its strategy. Until then,it had been all set to go to the polls by going back to former chief minister Digvijaya Singhs rule from 1993 to 2003.

Mindful of anti-incumbency against several of its legislators,the BJP is banking mainly on Shivraj Singh Chouhan,its chief minister of nearly eight years,and his governance with a human face. Chouhan was not the original choice when the BJP unseated the Congress in 2003; he followed Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur to the chair. But things have changed since Uma Bharati,who had floated the Bharatiya Janshakti after storming out of the BJP,managed only five seats,and eventually merged her fledgling outfit with the BJP.

At a recent mega convention of workers,a show stolen by the partys prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi,Bharti used the occasion to remind the large gathering that she had once sacrificed the chief ministers post to protect the honour of the tricolour.

Story continues below this ad

Bhartis presence used to unsettle Chouhan because she would miss no opportunity of hitting back at him while she was out of the BJP. She was allowed to return to the party on the condition that she would not interfere in MP politics,something that worked hugely to Chouhans favour. Now an MLA from Uttar Pradesh,Bharti has lost her ability to hurt Chouhan.

In his first few years as CM,Chouhan would appear tentative,even vulnerable,because he had been accused of corruption in what the opposition calls dumper scam. The 54-year-old eventually got a clean chit first from the Lokayukta,then from a local court and finally from the high court.

Since then,Chouhan has grown in confidence and stature by launching a series of popular schemes such as Ladli Laxmi,Kanyaadaan,pension and free pilgrimage,all of which contributed to his appeal. The rapid strides taken by the state in agriculture under Chouhan,who flaunts his son-of-the-soil image,have boosted foodgrains production.

The Congress,always a divided house,was a little slow on the uptake but has finally displayed a sense of urgency by holding many unity rallies devoted to bringing about a change. Scindia,youngest of all regional satraps who include leader of the opposition Ajay Singh,union minister Kamal Nath,AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh and former union minister Suresh Pachauri,has forced the BJP to take the opposition seriously.