BHOPAL/CHHINDWARA: The Congress party on Sunday ridiculed BJP for bringing out a separate election manifesto for women for Madhya Pradesh polls, saying the "lip service" would hardly matter as over 46,000 women and young girls have been victims of rape and various other crimes during last 15 years.
Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi also claimed that 'sure' about the defeat, the BJP is already exploring new names to be their leader in the Assembly replacing Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
"Mamaji's rule in Madhya Pradesh will be known for worst period against women in the state. They are today displaying only lip service towards the female population," Mr Chaturvedi told UNI during an interaction.
"Mamaji in Madhya Pradesh has been like Ravana's maternal uncle Maricha....also a Bahurupiya, a man of many shades and faces," he remarked in a lighter vein.To a question, Mr Chaturvedi said even in television debates "these days", the BJP spokespersons and leaders are displaying frustration.
"....the real issue is that Shivraj Singh Chouhan regime has thrown the state in the past 15 years towards destruction. The BJP leaders are clueless when questions on non-performance are thrown by Congress as well as common people," he said.
"I do not want to get personal. But it is a fact that Chief Minister's wife (Sadhna Singh) on at least two occasions got the taste of people's anguish. This is a serious matter and my sources say, the BJP is already thinking of an alternative to name as their new Leader of the Opposition in the assembly as they are certain about losing power," Mr Chaturvedi said.
Lashing out at the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for releasing a Vision Document without 'a vision', he said the ruling BJP would have done better job if they had referred to the Congress Manifesto which highlights relevant issues concerning people.
"We in the Congress has promised Rs 1,000 social security pension to farmers and Rs 51,000 for the marriage of their daughters," he said, adding that the BJP's document is only a "revised" version of their old papers and manifesto which were hardly implemented during last 15 years.
He also mentioned about Congress manifesto pledging to write off farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh, saying this will benefit 90 per cent of marginal farmers in the state.
Mr Chaturvedi also spoke about 50 per cent waiver on electric bills promised by his party.
While BJP is in power in the state since 2003, the present incumbent Mr Chouhan is in power since November 2005.
"To sum up these 15 years, I will say, first two years were utter confused administration with misplaced priorities under Uma Bharati and then Babulal Gaur but after November 2005, when Mr Chouhan took over, it has been an era of wrong priorities as....the state saw massive corruption and an indifferent government apparatus," Mr Chaturvedi said.
Answering questions, the Congress spokesman said the Congress party has been "battle ready" outfit in the central Indian state since early 2017 and all efforts have been channelised for giving a "united fight".
"Though there was a faulty image of a performing Chief Minister and a benevolent Mama (uncle) Shivraj Singh Chouhan, our sustained campaign has able to do away with this. Now, people know that they have been cheated.
Therefore, I say our confidence for a victory has seen quantum leap than it used to be even five months back". He said the planning and "meticulous execution" of the poll strategy has ensured during last few months that there has to be "man to man marking" - to use a football cliche.
"Such methodologies helped us in Gujarat and Karnataka and we were able to leave a positive impact. Our planning, unity of purpose at all levels and rightful execution of electoral strategies have left BJP baffled in Madhya Pradesh," he said.
He denied that the Congress has tried to play 'soft Hindutva' in the run up to the November 28 polls in the central Indian state and went onto add: "The Congress leaders have been visiting temples, but we never made it communal or a stepping stone to garner votes".
"Since the time of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel, our leaders have been visiting temples. When Somnath temple was rebuilt, it was not for Hindu votes".
He said it is the BJP which has 'communalised' politics in the country.
"When Mahatma Gandhi spoke about Ram Rajya, no one presumed it was communalism. All these traditions and good spirits were destroyed and distorted by the RSS".