NEW DELHI: Celebrations have not stopped for the BJP since the party swept the local body elections in Madhya Pradesh, where Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government had come under attack from the Congress, both in the state and in Parliament, over Vyapam scam and the related deaths.
The BJP said that despite campaign against Chief Minister Chouhan by the Opposition, the voters has reposed their faith in his governance.
And the results are likely to boost Chouhan’s image which had taken a beating following the hue and cry over the several deaths in the case. The CM had sought CBI inquiry after pressure built up due to massive media coverage of scam related deaths. The poll outcome is also likely to impact the Congress campaign in Parliament where the party had been demanding Chouhan’s resignation.
Addressing a news conference at the BJP headquarters here, party vice-president and MP incharge, Vinay Sahasrabhuddhe said, “The results show continuity of the mandate as the elections covered all parts of the state. It shows the people’s faith in Chouhan Government.”
According to the BJP, the mandate received by it was unprecedented since the Congress had been routed in various bodies which were held by it earlier. “The people have rejected the vilification assassination campaign carried out by the Congress,” Sahasrabuddhe added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the BJP leaders congratulated Chouhan on the good showing.
The victory, coming ahead of Bihar polls, is also likely to boost BJP’s confidence. The ruling party would also taunt the 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.”
“Congrats Shivraj! You won 3 Assembly elections, swept Zila Panchayat elections twice and 75 per cent of corporations and municipalities. And now, 8 out of 10 civic bodies,” he said.
While local body elections had been going on for many months, the 10 Zilla Parishads went to the polls after the row over Vyapam scam erupted and the BJP won eight of it while the Congress was reduced to one from the six it held, Sahasrabuddhe said. “The election results are a slap in the face of the Congress. They created an artificial uproar in Parliament over Vyapam and tried to find its echo among the masses. Now, the masses have spoken and if the Congress wants to listen to the people, then their message is that they have completely rejected its campaign against the BJP and the Chief Minister,” Sahasrabuddhe added.
The 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.