MP: BJP MLAs to get tickets based on participation in CM Shivraj’s yatras

While Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan continues his “Ashirvaad Yatra” tour to seek people’s blessings ahead of assembly elections slated for later this year, a few worries appear to be on his mind. Top among these worries is the agitation by several sections of government servants. The agitation launched by junior doctors has caused the greatest inconvenience to people. Employees manning the state secretariat, mandi employees and the teachers’ strike must have caused worry during the yatra. Agitations by government servants always affect the electoral prospects of the ruling party.

But the most serious worry has been caused by the near boycott of Shivraj’s current yatra, as also earlier yatras, by his ministerial colleagues and party MLAs. The state leadership is reviewing the performance of MLAs, ministers and party office-bearers who are among the probables for the upcoming assembly election. According to a review of party activities conducted by BJP during the last year, more than 104 MLAs—including 14 ministers and 44 first-time legislators—did not participate in special campaigns including Vikas Yatra, Kisan Samman Yatra and rural outreach programmes, say sources in the party. It is now learnt that active participation by Ministers and sitting MLAs is one of the factors which will be taken into consideration while re-allotting tickets to them for the election.

As per reports, 104 MLAs were found negligent in their performance and avoided participating in pro-people, pro-farmer programmes that are part of the party’s poll strategy. They might lose their ticket this time, said a senior state BJP functionary.

Vikas Yatra was aimed as a rural and urban outreach programme to boost morale of party leaders and workers to communicate with voters. During Vikas Yatra, from May 15 to June 15, party leaders were assigned specific duties to communicate with voters at booth level across the state. From May 22 the state unit organised Kisan Samman Yatra in the wake of the 10 day agitation announced by farmer unions. Sources in BJP said the performance of several leaders was not satisfactory during these programmes. According to reports, urban areas were most neglected by BJP leaders during Vikas Yatra. Details gathered from all divisions revealed that performance of 16 MLAs from Bundelkhand, 18 from Mahakaushal, 13 from Chambal, 34 from Malwa-Nimar, 13 from Madhya Bharat and 10 from Vindhya were not up to the mark, say highly placed sources.

Three episodes happened in the last few days which hit the headlines in the state newspapers. The first episode relates to tendering of apology by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on the floor of the Lok Sabha regarding the failure to invite Guna Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia to a government programme. The function was held in Scindia’s parliamentary constituency. According to norms, the MP should be invited to a government programme held within his/her constituency. Scindia lodged a vociferous protest for the failure to invite him. Responding to his protest, Gadkari tendered an apology. On his part, Scindia thanked Gadkari for his gesture.

Another episode which hit headlines relates to misbehaviour with AICC in-charge Deepak Babaria by some Congress men. The incident not only hit headlines but it was also taken very seriously by Congress President Rahul Gandhi. He has summoned PCC Chief Kamal Nath and other senior leaders to Delhi in order to seek clarification about the ugly incident. The Congress subsequently expelled six party workers. The BJP on its part moved fast and offered security to Babaria. Reacting to state government’s offer, Congress Chief spokesperson Shobha Ojha said that the state government shouldn’t worry about Babaria’s security, but provide security to women and girls of the state.

Another incident relates to the critical remarks made by state DGP RK Shukla against the judiciary. Congress MP Vivek Tankha has announced that he will approach the Supreme Court seeking punishment for the DGP. Besides this, the MP High Court Bar Association (HCBA) on July 30 had demanded the Election Commission to remove the DGP for his comments on the judiciary in a seminar on sensitivity towards SC/ST categories, that judges give biased judgments. HCBA president Adarsh Muni Trivedi said such comments provoke caste-conflict in society in a poll-bound state, hence Rishi Kumar Shukla should be removed from the DGP post immediately and if he isn’t, advocates would protest.