MP BJP banks on Chouhan ‘popularity’

With Holi festivities now coming to an end, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Madhya Pradesh has turned its full attention to the state Assembly elections due later in 2013 and started gearing up for “Mission 2013”. The state BJP leadership is banking heavily on the “popularity” of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and is leaving no opportunity to convey the message that the BJP will return to power for the third consecutive term in Madhya Pradesh. Last Saturday, the chief minister had a detailed meeting with party functionaries and had addressed party workers at the state party headquarters. On April 3 and 4, Mr Chouhan is scheduled to address a joint meeting of state ministers and ruling party MLAs and would be busy chalking out a detailed strategy for the coming state Assembly elections. According to BJP insiders, what is most likely to figure as the focal point of discussion during the CM’s meeting with ministers and ruling BJP MLAs is the feedback acquired through a four level survey about the image and performance of the MLAs and also regarding the implementation of state government’s policies and programmes at the ground level. The survey, now in the final stage, is being done by district collectors, state police intelligence and also by Jan Abhiyan Parishad, a high-powered body headed by the chief minister. During the just concluded Budget session of state Assembly, much to the discomfort of the Opposition Congress, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government did a massive reshuffle of senior bureaucrats, police officers, district collectors and district SPs. The largescale transfer and postings of IAS and IPS officers was sharply criticised by the Congress which said that “selected officers” have been given important postings keeping in view the coming state Assembly election.