In the run-up to Ghoradongri Assembly by-election, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Tuesday that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contesting on the plank of development.
"The public is aware of development works carried out in Betul as well as in the State. On the other hand, the Congress is against development," Chouhan, who was here to accompany BJP candidate Mangal Singh during filing of his nomination papers, told reporters.
Meanwhile, he parried queries on the controversy over Wednesday's 'Samrasta Snan' (dip of harmony) during Simhastha in Ujjain in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah stating that he has come for filing of nomination papers by Singh.
The BJP is organising a 'Samrasta Snan' in a bid to promote social harmony. Shah is scheduled to take holy dip along with dalit saints on the occasion. However, Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh vice-president Prabhakar Kelkar have opposed the event stating that it would give an impression that dalits were being discriminated against earlier.
Chouhan said that the BJP will contest the Ghodadongri Assembly by-poll on the plank of development and issues concerning the people. "We are contesting the by-poll on the plank of development and issues concerning the people. Our aim and principle is to develop the State and the people are well aware of this reality," Chouhan told reporters after BJP candidate Mangal Singh filed his nomination papers for the Ghodadongri (ST) seat in Betul district.Terming the Congress as anti-development, Chouhan said the BJP Government is running a campaign to hand over patta (land lease) to tribals in the entire State and as part of the initiative, a programme was also held in Chopna earlier. He said a similar programme was supposed to be held at Bheempur here and also foundation laying ceremonies were scheduled, but it appears Congress men might have complained about it because of which it did not materialise. Voting for the Ghodadongri by-poll will be held on May 30, while the counting of votes will take place on June 2. The last date for filing nomination for Ghodadongri seat is May 13 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is May 16.