NEW DELHI: Celebrations have not stopped in the BJP since the saffron party swept the local bodies elections in Madhya Pradesh, where the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government had come under intense attack from the Congress both in the state and parliament the over the Vyapam scam and related deaths.
The BJP said that despite campaign against its chief minister by the opposition, the voters has reposed their faith in his governance. On the other hand, results are likely to boost Chouhan’s image which had taken a beating following the hue and cry over several deaths in the case. Chouhan had requested for CBI inquiry after the pressure built up due to massive coverage of the scam.
The electoral verdict is also likely to impact Congress campaign inside the Parliament where they had been demanding Chouhan’s resignation for letting the house function.
Addressing a press conference at BJP’s national headquarters here, party vice president and incharge of the state, Vinay Sahasrabhudde said, "The results show continuity of the mandate as the elections touched all parts of the state. It shows people's faith in the Chouhan government."
The party said the mandate was unprecedented as Congress was routed in various bodies which were earlier held by it. “The people have rejected character assassination campaign carried out by the Congress, Sahasrabuddhe added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the party leaders had congratulated Chouhan for the good show.
The victory coming ahead of the Bihar elections are also likely to boost BJP’s confidence in hardselling its work. The ruling party will also taunt Congress which relentlessly campaigned against them and Chouhan.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu tweeted: "Happy about civic polls results in Madhya Pradesh. Big slap in the face of Congress for mud slinging against @ChouhanShivraj."
While the local bodies elections had been going on for many months, 10 Zila Parishads went to polls after the row over Vyapam scam erupted and BJP won 8 out of it while Congress was reduced to one from the six it held, Sahasrabuddhe said.
"The election results are a tight slap on the face of Congress. Congress created an artificial uproar in Parliament over Vyapam and tried to find its echo among the masses. Now masses have spoken and if Congress wants to listen to people,
then their message is that they have completely rejected its campaign against BJP and Chief Minister," Sahasrabuddhe added.
Naidu who had faced the brunt of Congress agitation in the parliament as he was the parliamentary affairs minister expressed his happiness over the drugging received by the opposition party.
"Congrats Shivraj! You won 3 Assembly elections, swept Zila Panchayat elections twice and 75 percent of corporations and municipalities. And now, 8 of 10 civic bodies," he said.
BJP registered victories in Morena, Ujjain, Harda, Chakghat in Rewa district, Bhainsdehi in Betul district, Kotar in Satna, Suwasara in Mandsaur and Vidisha municipal bodies.
A Congress and an Independent candidate were elected as president of municipalities in Sarangpur in Rajgarh district and Guhwara in Chhattarpur district respectively.