BJP Governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra are under the scanner. Internal politics may be the cause
The Congress is in a belligerent mood. It is trying to occupy the political space that was lost in the 2014 lok Sabha poll. It had never expected that it would get enough ammunition to attack the Modi Government so early in its term. Now there is a bonanza of issues, from the lalit Modi row to the Vyapam scam to the controversies in Maharashtra.
lined up in a row, these scams will be used to nail the Government in the Monsoon session of Parliament. While the Congress has a short memory of its own scams, the opposition parties are more than happy over the happenings in the BJP. Currently, BJP Governments in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra are all under the scanner.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Vyapam scam is fast getting national attention. It is soon going to receive the apex court’s attention too. Apart from money, what is alarming is the mysterious murders of more than 40 people who were seemingly connected with the scam. Initially, the BJP took a brazen stand as the case was being monitored by the High Court but now, under pressure from the party leadership as well as the Opposition, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has decided to go for a CBI inquiry. This has put the lid on the matter, at least for the time being.
However, Mr Chouhan is not out of the firing line as the Congress continues to demand a probe monitored by the Supreme Court as well as the resignation of the Chief Minister. It has also alleged the involvement of Mr Chouhan’s family in the scam. Mr Chouhan’s detractors within also will not rest until he is out.
Second is the public distribution system scam where Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh is under attack. The Congress has charged Mr Singh and his wife in the multi-crore scam. The Congress has also launched a campaign to expose Mr Singh, who was boasting about his good PDS system, which earned him the nickname of chawal baba.
The Congress is finding leaks in the PDS system, its case is strengthened by a raid conducted by the State anti-corruption bureau in March where some babus were caught red-handed with cash worth four crore rupees along with incriminating pen drives and diaries. The raid revealed the list of beneficiaries who had been sharing the loot. The raid has opened up a can of worms and the Congress has taken to the streets demanding the resignation of Mr Singh.
The third scam involves Rajasthan where Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje is under fire for her role in helping tainted former IPl boss lalit Modi. The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee has been demanding her resignation pointing out that she had committed constitutional impropriety. Moreover, Mr Modi’s business deals with the Chief Minister’s son has also been questioned. Ms Raje is digging in her heels and the central leadership of the BJP is in a dilemma.
Next is Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has come under fire even before completing one year in office. Corruption charges have surfaced against two of his Ministers — Ms Pankaja Munde and Mr Vinod Tawde. Both face irregularities in awarding contracts. The BJP is twiddling its thumb as to how to deal with these charges even as it faces tantrums from its ally, the Shiv Sena which is unhappy with the party for ignoring its leaders.
BJP insiders are wondering if there is a BJP versus BJP fight brewing. Mr Singh and Mr Chauhan, though low-profile Chief Ministers, are mass leaders. Ms Raje is a high-profile leader with a mass base. There are dissidents in all their States who have been activated. Also, except for Mr Fadvanis who was handpicked by the Prime Minister, the others are not known to be favourites of the top boss. In fact, Mr Chouhan was touted as the Prime Minister’s rival before the 2014 poll.
At the central level also, some party insiders see the present situation as a result of squabbles within the BJP. While Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari gave a clean chit to Ms Raje, Home Minister Rajnath Singh backed Mr Chouhan by stating that there was no need for a CBI probe into the Vyapam scam. But Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sought an unbiased probe.
These are conflicting signals that the Congress is ready to capitalise. It has already activated its State units for a street fight but much depends on how long it can sustain the momentum and how the BJP counters the attacks.