There is no anti-incumbency at work in Madhya Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Narendra Singh Tomar told party workers apparently to assuage their sagging spirits after the electoral shock received in Karnataka.
Tomar was speaking at the divisional Palak-Sanyojak Convention of Nagar-Gram Kendras at Ramvan in Satna on Saturday.
"The Vindhya region had traditionally been the stronghold of Congress and Samajwadi Party, but due to the unceasing hard work and dedication of the BJP workers now the saffron flag flies high in the region, Tomar said.
"It is through the nagar and gram kendras that the party has been able to reach at every polling booth in the state. This decentralised spread is definitely going to benefit the party in the coming assembly elections as well as the general elections in 2014," Tomar said.
With the Karnataka debacle fresh in mind, Tomar said that despite its rule of nine and half years, BJP rule in Madhya Pradesh remains an exception to anti-incumbency factor.
"The reason behind this is that CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has developed an emotional bond with the people by ushering major social and economic changes in the State.
The favourable situation should be utilized for success in the Mission-2013," Tomar said, adding that the credit for the favourable sentiment towards the party goes to party workers.
Hitting the main opposition party, Tomar said that Congress is ridden with serious infighting. "Its single-point agenda is to mislead the people and that is why people have become disillusioned from the party," Tomar remarked.
BJP state organization secretary Arvind Menon also addressed the convention.
"The idea of establishing nagar-gram kendras mooted by Kushabhau Thakare to strengthen the party has been realized now. Now the party workers should work to strengthen the party at booth-level centres. If this is achieved, the party would definitely reap benefits," Menon said.