Modi has become ‘mass leader’ but Rahul is ‘directionless’: Shivraj Chouhan

“There is no comparison,” 59-year-old Chauhan said when asked how he looks at Modi and the Congress Vice President around whom the discourse of the next general election is increasingly getting focussed.

“Narendra Modi has become a mass leader with a huge support base. This is a fact. But nobody knows in what direction Rahul Gandhi is going. I am disappointed. I used to think that since he is young,Gandhi will perhaps give some direction to his party,” said the two-time Chief Minister of MP which goes to polls on November 25.

“It’s a thing of the past”,quipped Chouhan when reminded that BJP veteran L K Advani had at one point made clear his preference for him over Modi in BJP’s prime ministerial stakes.

Chouhan,who is perceived to be a moderate leader within BJP,sought to allay any misgivings among minorities about his party saying there is ‘Sarvdharma Sambhav’ (equal treatment to all religious groups) in MP.

To a question whether Modi’s campaigning in MP will help him or whether he was also a bit apprehensive about winning the state on his own,Chouhan said “both Modiji and Advaniji will have impact. It’s not only Narendrabhai but the entire leadership of BJP is coming to Gwalior.

Asked whether there is a difference between governance models of MP and Gujarat,he said,”due to local factors,there are different ways… But there is no difference in the model. A number of steps were taken recently for minorities in Gujarat also.”

He also dismissed contentions of a united Congress in MP led by young Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia posing any challenge to BJP.

“I do not see any such challenge… Challenge for me is the development of MP. I do not consider anyone a challenge,but I don’t criticise anyone,” Chouhan said,referring to the opposition Congress in the state.

“The affection we are getting from people is sufficient. We are full of confidence,” he added.

Rejecting the charge of communal politics against BJP,Chouhan said,”It is only an accusation. You see Madhya Pradesh… We have won the confidence of all sections of

society. Ask about it anywhere in MP… We have loved them,they have given back their love.

“Hindus and Muslims both are sons of India. We look at them as human beings,not from the perspective of religion. We have worked for all. All sections (of then population) feel that,when we have worked for them,why should they stay away

from BJP,” the Chief Minister said.

Chouhan also downplayed the efforts by some parties to come together on a secular plank,claiming that a situation was now emerging in which people are inching towards BJP,something he had not imagined earlier.

“NDA may get majority on its own,the way people are moving towards BJP. I myself was not confident a few months back. But the scenario that is emerging now is very clear,” he said.

Meanwhile,referring to party colleague and known detractor Uma Bharti,Chouhan said that not too much should be read into her absence in a big way from the poll campaign.

Asked why Bharti,a former chief minister,was not to be seen at election rallies,Chouhan said,”We do not need to stand together on a stage holding hands like the Congress to show that we are together. Everybody is working in different areas allocated to them.

“All of us are fighting the election together. Umaji is also with us. We are fighting together,” Chouhan said.