RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh dismissed any threat to the National Democratic Alliance in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 as “ambitious” Opposition leaders would not be able to put up a united fight against the NDA.
“To what extent they (Opposition leaders) can put aside their differences and what convincing narrative of governance these cluster of parties have remains to be seen,” said Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s longest-serving CM.
“The United Opposition is more a reflection of their panic owing to PM Narendra Modiji’s charismatic leadership,” he added.
Asked if former Congress leader Ajit Jogi, who has floated his own party, posed a challenge to him in the State Assembly elections due later this year, Singh said Jogi would damage the election prospects of the Congress more than the BJP.
“In an election, nobody can be ignored. Ajit Jogi was previously a member of the Congress party and now a rebel. So, his emergence as a separate regional force in the election fray is likely to dent the prospects of the Congress rather than the BJP,” the CM said.
He claimed that the Maoists had been more or less been contained to only a few regions. “The north Sarguja region adjoining Jharkhand is now free from Naxal violence. Down south in Bastar, the situation has conspicuously improved with the rebels now confined to limited pockets,” he said.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, 65, is banking on his ‘good governance’ and ‘development’ record to seek a fourth consecutive term in the elections scheduled for later this year.
Though he admits that every election is a challenge, the Ayurvedic doctor-turned-politician is confident that his government’s people-centric initiatives will help the BJP beat anti-incumbency. The longest-serving BJP chief minister told Ejaz Kaiser that it’s going to be ‘Advantage BJP’ in Chhattisgarh owing to the combined positive impact of BJP rule in the Centre as well as in the state.
In an election year, what’s biggest concern for your party? Is it anti-incumbency?
Anti-incumbency is worrying when the government fails to identify the people’s wishes, their needs and expectations. Our state carries out the biggest social audit every year when the government proactively reaches out to the masses under the Lok Suraj Abhiyan to know the people’s grievances and fulfil their demands within a stipulated timeframe. Clean government with accountability and transparency is the idea behind such a campaign.
How do you compare your third term with the one when you first came to power in 2003?
The BJP has redefined good governance in the state during the last 15 years. When we took over in 2003, Chhattisgarh was largely neglected, undeveloped and financially weak. Through judicious focus and dedicated vision, Chhattisgarh is today one of the fastest growing states in the country.
Compared to 2003, the statistics on various socio-economic indices show the state has made great strides. The per capita income, revenues, budgetary allocations for development, literacy rate — all have significantly increased. There is a steep decline in malnutrition and maternal mortality rate. Strong infrastructure connectivity exists across the state. In 2017-18, the estimated growth was 2.89 per cent in agriculture sector, 5.84 per cent in industrial sector and 9.46 per cent in service sector. The state’s growth rate in 2017-18 was 6.65 per cent.
After Lok Suraj Abhiyan, what was the need for launching Vikas Yatra?
The Lok Suraj Abhiyan is aimed at understanding the people’s sentiments and perceptions about development, to get their feedbacks on the progress achieved and then engage them in the process of formulating the strategy on good governance practices.
The Vikas Yatra elaborates upon the government’s vision. Such yatras give us countless insights which result in policy intervention. The occasions are also to celebrate the growth and development achieved during the last 14-15 years.
Will (Chhattisgarh Janata Congress chief) Ajit Jogi be an obstacle to achieving the target of 65 seats set by BJP chief Amit Shah?
In an election, nobody can be ignored. Ajit Jogi was previously a member of the Congress party and now a rebel. So, his emergence as a separate regional force in the election fray is likely to dent the prospects of the Congress rather than the BJP which remains strong, streamlined and a people-centric party. We will create a new landmark by winning 65 seats this time.
But aren’t the stakes higher for BJP in a small state with triangular contest?
Chhattisgarh has largely witnessed bipolar politics between the BJP and the Congress... Regional parties have never been successful in offering any electoral competition owing to their hidden conflicts and lack of social cohesion and ideology. We take any election as a challenge and keep track of everything going on in the political theatre of the state. The BJP’s achievements, clean and good governance, besides electoral strategy, will pave the way for the party to win for the fourth consecutive term.
Your party workers were not happy with some of your ministers...
Our party nurtures internal democracy and operational transparency. Every member is empowered and entitled to express his or her views, which is essential for healthy democracy that we promote and zealously guard.
You have a strong bureaucratic team, but it’s believed that a politically weak Cabinet is casting a shadow on your governance...
Chhattisgarh being a new state, we tried to ensure that everyone played their roles to the best of their capabilities. When it comes to administrative execution of various innovative ideas, plans and welfare programmes, it’s not just constructive political representation but also judicious and effective use of the bureaucracy that’s the need of the hour. I always appreciate positive criticism.
Will the Karnataka verdict have any impact on the BJP’s prospects in Chhattisgarh?
Not at all. Every state has its own political scenario, local issues, compulsions and agenda.
With a galaxy of Opposition leaders coming together to counter the BJP, what challenges will the party face in 2019 general election?
There are highly ambitious faces in the Opposition camp whose sole objective is to secure power at any cost. The united Opposition is more a reflection of their panic owing to PM Narendra Modiji’s charismatic leadership. There is no challenge for BJP-led NDA government to return to power in 2019. To what extent they (Opposition leaders) can put aside their differences and what convincing narrative of governance these cluster of parties have remains to be seen.
After being acclaimed as ‘chaur wale baba’ owing to your model PDS scheme, people are now seeing you as ‘digital baba’ due to the extensive digital push by your government...
I am humbled by whatever title people give me. It’s always an honour. It’s our endeavour that the people of my state become digitally empowered and have access to technology platforms and information highways.
Will the farmers’ issue impact the elections?
We proactively worked to address the problems faced by the farmers. Every year, there is a substantial increase in budgetary allocations for the agriculture sector. This year it was 29 per cent higher. Whether it’s online payment, minimum support price for paddy, subsidies or welfare schemes, there is no discontent or unrest among the agrarian community in the state.
The Opposition has no genuine issue; they only want to provoke the farmers.
You were the CM for two terms during the UPA rule, and now when NDA is in power. How do you find the approach of the two dispensations towards Chhattisgarh?
Under the NDA rule at the Centre, the state is getting more attention and greater allocation of funds, which has helped achieve several goals. With the BJP at the Centre as well as in Chhattisgarh, our strength is not 1+1= 2, but it becomes 11. Our issues and needs have been promptly and patiently addressed by the Centre and the state is moving fast on a higher growth trajectory. Under the UPA rule, we felt ignored.
But despite your being CM for over 14 years, the Maoist challenge still persists?
We inherited the Maoist problem, which is over three-decade old. The north Sarguja region adjoining Jharkhand is now free from Naxal violence. Down south in Bastar, the situation has conspicuously improved with the rebels now confined to limited pockets.
The three-pronged strategy — aggressive anti-Maoist operations; major development initiatives, including greater connectivity; and winning the confidence of tribal villagers — is making a whole lot of difference on the ground. The strength and morale of the Maoists have crumbled. The local tribal communities accessing public utility services feel empowered.
How important is it to recognise social harmony as part of good governance?
Social and communal harmony should be seen as an invaluable heritage of our nation. Unity and communal harmony remain our strength.
How is ‘competitive federalism’, as espoused by the NITI Aayog, meaningful for states?
The policy of one-size-fits-all has been replaced with different policies for different states based on their needs and priorities. Competitive federalism, which will be instrumental for integrated growth of the nation, follows the concept of bottom-up approach and will bring change within the states on the basis
of ranking their performance on social indices. The states will also have the freedom to plan their expenditure based on their prime concerns and considerations.