About twenty months before the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the Chief Minister of the state Shivraj Singh Chouhan has started appearing in election mode. Shivraj, who was once known for his calm nature, is now trying to come as ‘Bulldozer Mama’. ‘Bulldozer mama’, who is generous to the poor and is ready to take strict action against the wrong officials.
After Yogi Adityanath’s historic victory in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Shivraj has prepared himself for a completely new attitude and image. Because in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, taking strong action against the mafia, made himself a brand as ‘Bulldozer Baba’. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is running the government in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, had taken advantage of the free ration and housing scheme in UP and this also made the party a new electoral constituency among the beneficiaries.
Strict warning given to officers
While there is squabble in the state unit of Congress, Chouhan, on the other hand, addressed 15 public meetings last month and presided over 17 meetings with officials regarding government schemes. The officials told about these meetings that Chouhan had given them a clear warning that if there was any negligence in reaching the benefits of government schemes to the common people, then strict action would be taken. Officials said that in a cabinet meeting at Pachmarhi in March, Chouhan has also set a target for the ministers for the next 20 months.
re-launch of these plans
After the election results of five states on March 10, Shivraj had announced the resumption of schemes like Teerth Darshan Yojana, Kanya Vivah Yojana, Ladli Laxmi Yojana. Of these, the Teerth Darshan scheme was started in 2012, which was closed by the Congress government in 2018. At the same time, the girl marriage scheme was stopped due to COVID-19. A senior government official familiar with the entire development said that these three schemes were the most popular in the state. He said that these schemes played an important role in popularizing Shivraj Singh Chouhan as ‘Mama’ and that is why the Chief Minister is paying more attention to these schemes.
trying to help farmers
Along with this, Shivraj is also trying to regain the trust of the farmers. According to the data, a large number of farmers had voted for the Congress in 2018. Especially areas like Malwa and Nimar, which were once considered a stronghold of the BJP. In 2013 BJP won 56 out of 66 seats here, but in 2018 only 28 seats came in BJP’s account. Farmers’ faith in the BJP had eroded significantly after the farmers’ loan waiver promise and the death of five farmers in police firing in Mandsaur in 2018. Chouhan has now once again announced to waive the interest on the loans of farmers. However, he has put a condition that the farmers should pay the principal amount.
Preparations for the cultivation of tribals
Along with this, Shivraj has also announced to set up a new Tribal Development Corporation to create new employment opportunities for the tribals. The government has also increased the budget allocated for the welfare of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe women in the budget.
Shivraj created the image of ‘Bulldozer Mama’
Along with welfare schemes, Shivraj is also trying to give a message to the voters that he is very tough against mafia and criminals. On March 20, CM Shivraj had said during a public meeting that ‘Mama’s bulldozer has started, now it will not stop until the miscreants are buried. Their houses will be destroyed. I have eliminated dacoits from the state and now I will eliminate mafia and criminals. Following this statement, BJP leaders put up posters projecting Shivraj as ‘Bulldozer Mama’ across the state. These posters showed that in the last two years, the state government had demolished 127 buildings of mafia or criminals.
Shivraj changed his image even in front of the officers
According to officials, Shivraj tried to change his image by being very strict in front of government employees. In the meeting held on March 19, Chouhan clearly told the officers that if they do not perform the responsibility properly, they will be transferred. He had said, ‘I am clearly saying that I do not want to see any kind of mercy and corruption for the criminals. If the officials have any problem, I will transfer them but I will not stop the campaign to drive out criminals from Madhya Pradesh and help the poor.
Congress bid – Shivraj lost charisma
On Shivraj’s change in political track, a senior BJP leader said that when speculations started that Shivraj would be removed from Madhya Pradesh, he tried to change his image of being ‘soft’ and ‘mild’. started. However, the Congress believes that this image change of Shivraj will have no effect in 2023. Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee Narendra Saluja said that Shivraj spent public money to organize a cabinet meeting at a hill station to mislead the public. Congress leaders believe in doing concrete work without showing off. “The chief minister should understand that he has lost his charisma and any attempt to change his image will not work,” he said.
BJP said – there is nothing like changing the image in this
Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agarwal said, “There is nothing like making or changing the image in this. The BJP-led state government came to power due to the misrule of the Congress government for 15 months. BJP never works to win elections but always works to help the poor and win the hearts of the people.