Congress party legislators in Madhya Pradesh seem to have tied themselves up in knots after the Chief Minister asked them to submit a development roadmap for each of their constituencies.
A delegation of Congress MLAs met Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday to push for faster development in their respective constituencies. Yadav, however, outplayed them by agreeing in principle and asking them to submit development plans for their areas.
The Congress legislators were left confused by the deft move and are still said to be in search of a counter-offensive to trap the Chief Minister, who is still awaiting a response from members of the delegation.
The recent round of maneuvering began soon after the Chief Minister asked all BJP MLAs to submit development plans for works worth Rs 15 crore each. After this news was circulated, the Congress legislators, led by Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Umang Singhar, met the Chief Minister.
Yadav expressed gratitude towards them for bringing the problems of their constituencies and asked them to submit detailed plans for each of these areas.
Political observers feel that if the Congress MLAs submit their demands, the ruling BJP would get them implemented with the help of party leaders, and thus the credit will go to the ruling party. If they don't submit their demands, they would be accused of indulging in politics at the cost of development.Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar, while talking to The Pioneer, said that Congress MLAs would certainly submit their pending demands, but in the meeting, state-level issues were raised, and the Chief Minister assured that immediate action would be taken.
Notably, before the assembly elections in 2023, then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had issued directives for BJP MLAs to submit proposals for works in their constituencies so that they could gain mileage in the assembly elections. Congress MLAs accused the government of discrimination, stating that in the Budget session of the State Assembly, BJP MLAs were given a fund of Rs 15 crore each.
Proposals of only Rs 5 crore each were taken from Congress MLAs, but the Opposition legislators are still awaiting these funds. The Congress is seething at the discrimination and blames the Chief Minister for insulting the constitution he swore to uphold while promising to treat all citizens equally.Congress MLA from Datia, Rajendra Bharti, said an MLA is an MLA, no matter which party he belongs to.
The Chief Minister should treat them all equally. Rs 15 crore should be given to all MLAs without discrimination.He accused the Chief Minister of giving this amount to BJP MLAs alone while Opposition legislators are being asked to submit proposals for a much smaller amount. The Congress party alleges that not a single development proposal presented by Congress MLAs has been approved.
"After taking an oath on the constitution, leaders do things contrary to that oath. Those who have taken the oath are responsible for this breach of promise. We hope that they will take decisions impartially, without any bias or malice, and work for everyone while providing full support to all the MLAs, irrespective of political affiliations," said Bharti.
