Seeking a fourth-consecutive term, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh tells Richa Sharma that the development work carried out by BJP government is enough to ensure that people vote for him in the Assembly elections next month.
Famous as ‘chawal wale baba’ for providing rice at Rs 1 in the Public Distribution System, the 65-year-old is confident of faring better than the previous three elections this time. With former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi joining hands with Mayawati to contest elections in the state, Singh feels that he is a formidable opponent and will have an impact on some seats.
Raman Singh promises to focus on improving social indicators in the state in the next five years if he wins. He launched his election campaign on Saturday from Naxal-infested and tribal-dominated Bastar region, that goes to poll on November 12.
After 15 years of rule, will anti-incumbency be a major factor?
I covered over 12,000 kms during my Chhattisgarh yatra across 90 constituencies and I did not find anti-incumbency anywhere. It is instead pro-incumbency because the kind of work we have done in the state is something that no one had thought of. We are in Geedam (Dantewada) today which has created history in the field of education.
The focus of the Prime Minister, President and Chhattisgarh government has been to ensure development in special districts like Dantewada, Bijapur and (other) backward districts. These districts are core to the government’s development planning. We have succeeded in providing health and education infrastructure and will keep focussing on these areas as this is our strength and power.
Do you think Ajit Jogi will be a key player in deciding who forms the government?
I think Congress is the main rival of the BJP, but in over 24 seats, the Jogi-led alliance is a formidable force. No one should be underestimated.
What are the issues on the basis of which you are seeking votes?
We are reaching out to the people of Chhattisgarh through the development work we have done and our plan for the next five years. The power sector has been our major focus area and we are ensuring the availability of electricity for all. In so many decades, Congress governments never did the kind of work that our government is doing.
Whether it is our Public Distribution System, road infrastructure, increased rates for paddy procurement, bonus for crops or education, we have fulfilled all the promises that we made to the people of the state to ensure a better life for them.
Under health insurance, we provided guaranteed insurance cover of Rs 50,000 and now under Ayushman Bharat, Rs 500,000 health cover has been assured. So all the major steps are being taken in various areas and will benefit us in the Assembly elections.
The BJP is focussing on ‘Mission 65’, do you expect to get the numbers?
I am confident that we will fare better than the previous three Assembly elections and sweep in all 11 constituencies in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. I am sure BJP will form the government both in the state and at the Centre.
This time, our focus is on getting 65 seats. Last time we got left behind due to few seats because of a small margin of votes in the Dantewada area.
Is Naxalism in Bastar hampering Chhattisgarh’s progress?
Travel in any (Naxal-hit) districts like Sukma, Dantewada. Go anywhere, there is nothing. It’s just written about in books and shown on TV. These are very good people and believe in simple living. Girls travel on a scooter in Dantewada even at midnight.
There can’t be better people than that of Bastar. Globally everyone is talking about the development in Dantewada and everyone wants to come here.
What will be the focus of your government if voted for fourth time?
It is just a start and there were a lot of problems that we had been focussing on. My focus will also be to present Chhattisgarh as a developed state before the country and for that, we have to walk miles. I want social indicators like Infant Mortality Rate, Maternal Mortality Rate and malnutrition in the state to go down.
Chhattisgarh is among the top states as far as infrastructure is concerned and we will also make it best in area of social infrastructure. We will keep walking and fighting till we achieve our goals.