Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said lK Advani is the supreme leader of the BJP. Asserting that Advani has “mentored” several leaders like him, the “ever-smiling” Chief Minister, who embarked on a State-wide Jan Ashirvad Yatra from this holy city on Monday, also reiterated that no individual can grow bigger than the party.
“Advani is the supreme leader of the BJP. Not only me, but the entire party accepts this. He has guided and made many of us what we are today. Sometimes I feel proud that the BJP has a galaxy of leaders at the central level,” Chouhan told The Pioneer when asked whether Advani has been ruled out for the Prime Minister’s post. Chouhan insisted that it would be the BJP, and not just one individual, who would fight the forthcoming State election.
“Only the hard work of party men can ensure victory. The entire BJP will fight the election as one. BJP is a party in which no individual can grow bigger than the party,” he said.
Remaining tight-lipped on the NDA’s PM issues, Chouhan claimed that the National Campaign Committee under Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will play an “active role” even in the State elections.
On BJP chief Rajnath Singh’s repeated comments that Modi was the “most popular leader” of the BJP, Chouhan replied that Singh’s statements are well thought of.”
“Modi is Chairman of the Campaign Committee. I spoke to him this morning. I will certainly invite him during the election campaign,” Chouhan said. On why Modi’s picture was missing from party posters, he replied: “This yatra is a local issue.” Chouhan said local issues will dominate State elections but national issues will eventually play a role.
“Every other day, you read about one scam or the other. They (UPA) have run the Government very badly. See how Chinese army personnel are infiltrating into India so frequently. There is no self-respect,” he said. The Chief Minister claimed that development and welfare of common people would be central to his campaign theme.
“I tried to serve the people of this State to the best of my ability. Now I am going to seek a mandate on the basis of the performance of my Government. I will ask the people to judge where this State stood in 2003, where it is now, in 2013 and what we plan to do by 2018,” he said.