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Fulfil Rahul's loan waiver promise: Shivraj to Cong

Bhopal: Acting chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday asked the Congress to make good on party chief Rahul Gandhi's campaign promise of farm loan waiver.

Chouhan resigned earlier in the day after the Congress emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections.

"Rahul Gandhi has promised to waive farmers' loans within ten days of coming to power or change the chief minister. They must fulfil his promise," Chouhan said, speaking to reporters here.

The BJP would play the role of constructive opposition in the state, he said.

During the campaign, Gandhi had promised to write off farmers' loans within ten days of the Congress coming to power. The promise was also part of the party's manifesto.

"Now it is our responsibility to play the role of chowkidar (watchman)," Chouhan said. "We are not going to sit silent," he added.

The BJP would soon start preparations for the Lok Sabha elections so that it again forms government at the Centre under Narendra Modi's leadership, Chouhan said.

Talking about the BJP's performance in the state, Chouhan, a three-time chief minister, said, "The complete responsibility of the defeat is mine alone. Party workers worked hard, people too gave us their love, but we fell short of numbers despite getting more votes (than the Congress)."

Asked why his party's slogan of "Abki Baar-200 Paar" (More than 200 seats this time) could not become reality, Chouhan said, "The CM has failed."

He expressed hope that new government would continue the welfare schemes launched by his government.

State BJP chief Rakesh Singh said the party would continue to work for people.

"Last evening we initially thought the party should make efforts to form government, but later we felt such things should be left to the future. So we decided not to stake claim to form government," Singh said.

"The defeat is collective (responsibility)," he added.

The BJP, which ruled the state for 15 years, got 109 out of the total 230 seats against the Congress which bagged 114.

However, the saffron party polled 41 per cent of the votes, more than Congress' 40.9 per cent vote share.

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