Every Section Of Society In MP Is In Distress

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath has frequently been endowed with epithets such as ‘doer’ and ‘go-getter’ in his political career going back over four decades. He is the seniormost member of the Lok Sabha, having represented Chhindwara constituency in Madhya Pradesh nine times since 1980. On his hands is the unenviable task of wresting Madhya Pradesh from the BJP—the first time he is leading his party’s campaign in a state election. It is a huge challenge to dislodge Shivraj Singh Chouhan from the CM’s post, which he has held for the past 15 years, while also contending with the challenge from within the Congress—after all, it was the young Scindia scion, Jyotiraditya, who was being groomed for a leadership role in the state. At the same time, this is perhaps the best chance to defeat the BJP in a direct one-to-one fight, with anti-incumbency at an all-time high. That is why Madhya Pradesh is seen as the true marker to gauge the public mood in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

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If the BJP manages to retain the state, it will strengthen the party’s muscle, but if Congress manages to wrestle the state away, it will stride into 2019 with far greater confidence. Replete with Hindutva symbolism, the campaign on the ground has already become belligerent with allegedly doctored videos, charges and counter-charges. The Congress ‘Vachan Patra’ (manifesto) has a distinct saffron stamp as it talks of ‘gauraksha’, developing Ram Gaman Path in Chitrakoot and enacting the ‘Maa Narmada Nyas Adhiniyam’ for conservation of the river.

Kamal Nath is not apologetic about his party using Hindutva to counter the BJP narrative. He tells Bhavna Vij-Aurora in an interview that the BJP does not have “distributorship of Hinduism” and the Congress is on its way to a historic victory in the state. Excerpts:

Among all the election-bound states, Madhya Pradesh is seen to be most crucial as it is a direct contest and a weathercock for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. How do you see the prospects of the Congress?

I am very confident that we are going to win. Every section of the society in the state is in distress. Whether it’s the farm­ ers, the youth, labourers, women and traders, all are unhappy with the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. The chief minister has proved to be a ‘ghoshnaveer’, one who only makes announcements and promises without fulfilling them. The people have seen through the BJP’s false promises. They all feel cheated by the Chouhan government.