‘In MP Assembly polls, money power will face people’s power’

bhopal: Former Madhya Pradesh Minister and Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh has said that the upcoming Assembly polls will be contested between the Congress’s public strength and BJP’s money power so those parties that believe in the Constitution have to unite to curb the vote splitting.

He also claimed that Congress would win the elections with a full majority in the upcoming polls.

In an interview with Millennium Post Chief Correspondent Satyaprakash Sharma, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s son and MLA from Raghogarh, a family prescriptively constituency, Jaivardhan interacted on many political issues ahead of the state Assembly elections due in November this year.

Jaivardhan is considered the successor of former CM Digvijay in state politics.

If third parties, AAP, AIMIM, SP and BSP enter the election fray, will it be favourable or disadvantageous to Congress?

The upcoming Assembly elections will be held between the Congress’s public power and BJP’s money powers. Congress has given rights to Schedule Tribes, Schedule Castes and Other Backward Classes and always elevated their voice. Those parties that believe in the Constitution should realise that the votes will be split among them.

They have to unite to oust the BJP, which has built the country’s image in the world as an elected dictator nation where there is no freedom of media, the judiciary has been compromised, executives have become corrupt and institutions have failed.

I believe that Congress will win the elections with a huge majority and no situation will create like the 2020 year when the BJP toppled the Congress government by buying MLAs. Because the people of the state are angry with BJP for this cause. MP has a bipolar model of elections.

In the 2018 elections, even though winning more seats, Congress’s vote share was less than BJP, what efforts have been made by the party to increase it?

People’s trust has lifted in the BJP government on their fake promises.

Modi ji-led central and Shivraj ji-led state governments had made several commitments to reduce inflation and provide 2 crore employment every year to youths but they have failed to fulfil their promises, and the inflation has increased by two times during their tenure, qualified youths are wandering to get employment. BJP promised to double the farmers’ income but they have been committing suicide due to the burden of loans. Due to these reasons, every section of society is fed up with the BJP so I hope youths, farmers, women and other classes will support fully Congress in the upcoming polls.

Will Rahul Gandhi’s outreach campaign ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which had passed from MP be beneficial to Congress in the elections?

Of course! the BJY impacted the people of Madhya Pradesh. Millions of people walked with Rahul Gandhi ji during the yatra, it increased the trust of people towards the Congress and elevated the credibility of Rahul ji’s leadership among the people of the state. Through the yatra, he proved that he is a ground and popular leader as the people of the country in a huge number of various sections took part in the Yatra. Gandhi comes from an old political family but he walked on foot for four months. He has also proved his capability to serve people through this.

What efforts have been made by Congress so far to connect the public towards the party?

The BJY and ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo’ campaigns have proved the most effective steps to do so. Besides, the 15-month-long Kamal Nath ji-led regime did the work which Shivraj ji-led BJP government could not do in 15 years. We waived farmers’ debts, provided 100 units of electricity at Rs 100, halved the farms’ electricity bills and opened gaushals in every janpad.

Congress got a chance of only 15 months and in this period we worked for the people and put the accounts of the government before the public. The people of the state want to give an opportunity of 5 years again to Kamal Nath ji.

What about you say on ‘Ladali Bahana Yojana’ which is considered a game-changer scheme of the Shivraj Singh government in the political corridors?

The scheme has been launched after Congress announced to provide Rs 1,000 as pension to women if it voted to power. It does not cover all women of a family and is not a comprehensive scheme. Only Rs 8,000 crore has been provisioned in the recently presented Budget for the yojana, the fund is not sufficient.

Shivraj is a long-serving Chief Minister of the state but he does not give the accounts of his tenure. Congress has also announced Rs 1,500 to the women if it comes to power.

Do you think an anti-incumbency against the BJP government?

I have never seen such anti-incumbency in my political life. Government employees are against the government. Every section of society including youth and farmers is upset with the corruption, arrogance and ego of the BJP and its middlemen and they want to change this time. No work is done without money and poor people are being exploited.

What do you want to say about the Chouhan-led government announcement to give 1 lakh jobs in a year?

The government itself answered a question in the Assembly that 29 lakh youths were registered during the last three years and provided government jobs to only 21. How can they provide jobs so? BJP always make fake commitments and announcements.