Eye on polls, MP CM holds chaupal

Badwani: With the surveys indicating Congress gaining ground in Madhya Pradesh, the state chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his wife, Sadhna Singh, who have embarked on a two month long yatra to seek blessings of the people — Janashirvaad Yatra have begun holding chaupals (meeting with the locals) in the rural belt.

After the debacle in Karnataka, the BJP has shifted its  focus mainly on Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

In a massive propganda blitzkreig, the state government has distributed audio clips of  the speeches of the chief minister and Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi. The slogan for the poll is time tested — ab ki baar Shivraj Singh ki sarkar. Mr Chouhan incidentally is aiming for a fourth term.

While the chief minister is holding his chaupal with the men, his wife is addressing the “grievances of women”. Both the chief minister and his wife are collecting applications, complaints in the rural areas and assuring of a speedy redressal.

Relieved after the BJP president, Mr Amity Shah's clear indication that he would not be shifted to the Centre after the elections, Mr Singh told this newespaper; “I am here to stay to serve the people of my state.”

The yatra will cover all the 230 assembly constituencies.