Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh), Oct 11 (UNI) The anti incumbency factor will not work in the poll-bound state of Chhattisgarh, a senior BJP leader and state Urban Development Minister Amar Agrawal said here on Thursday and maintained that the single biggest factor that will help the Lotus party form government in the state is that "people have faith" that the dispensation has delivered.
"I will not speak of one year or two....Since 2003 when this government first came into being, we are showing performance. Right from 2003, I will say we worked on various welfare measures. The overall per person income data showed improvement. We introduced Rs 2 per kg and improved the PDS mechanism. People have started showing confidence in us," Mr Agrawal, a former health minister, told UNI in an interview here.
He said similarly in 2008 also - when Raman Singh government was re-elected - "we worked hard and developed innovative measures to create health cards - one Rs 30,000 card for all and for poor the card gave Rs 2.5 lakh assistance on medical ground. Again we were re-elected in 2013 and here we worked hard to help double farmers income".
"We had promised Rs 2100 MSP for farmers and hence we have announced Rs 1700 MSP and there is additional Rs 300 bonus. So people of all sections believe, we can deliver and we are delivering," he said.
Moreover, Mr Agrawal said the anti-incumbency will not work against the Raman Singh regime because the people have started realising the benefits of 'double engine' growth and development due to BJP governments both in the centre and in the state.
"The two central schemes - the Ujjwala scheme for gas and the Housing for All have gone down very well among the rural people. These schemes are very popular. Look, everyone dreams of a house and here is a government which is delivering on the system," he said adding principal facets in governance those go in favour of BJP is that the middlemen syndrome has been done away with.
"So if we look back, the journey of our state since 2003 to 2018 --- there have been massive developments. Chhattisgarh has achieved milestones in education, health, financial management and farm and social sectors. These are visible. So people believe we deserve a fourth term and it is coming for sure," Mr Agrawal said.
Answering questions, he said one big advantage coming in favour of the BJP is the "gross ineffectiveness of the Congress party".
"Neither they could work while in government and nor now they are functioning sincerely as an opposition party. People of Chhattisgarh have seen from before the Naxal-led violence during Congress regime. We have worked hard to fight the Naxal menace also," he said.
Mr Agrawal said the latest CD episode involving the state unit president Bhupesh Baghel is a matter that only "exposes the Congress party too well".
"Kisi ka bhi CD bana lena (They are into a game where fake CDs are being made out on regular basis)," he said adding "in the process people have come to see the true face of Congress and hence they will decide in favour of BJP only".
To a question he said: "On one side, we are offering Vikas (development) and on the other hand the Congress party has no plans or vision. The opposition is simply coming out before the people as a party of 'shazish-karta (conspirators)".
He also exuded confidence that the Naxal menace will be given a solid fight and will be eliminated in Chhattisgarh in next two-three years.
"Naxalism as a menace came into Chhattisharh way back in 1984. It is not new. The grievances were not addressed. There could be possible nexus also. In the process the roots of Maoist forces became very strong. But we made it clear right from the beginning that parallel system of rule - one by the established state government and the other by Naxals will not be allowed. We fought and made sacrifices. And the result is showing," Mr Agrawal added.
UNI DEVN SHK1822