The difficulty for the BJP is that there it has nothing to criticise Scindia about. He is new in state politics. He has never held any office in the state and as a Minister of State at the Centre, he has already earned kudos for his efficiency and transparency – just like his late father Madhavrao Scindia, who, as Railways Minister, was nick-named as CMD (Chairman-cum-Managing Director) and had displayed his talent as a competent administrator. As yet, there is no allegation of Scindia junior misusing his ministerial position to derive any personal benefits. His only fault is that he belongs to a royal family. In fact, BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have been publicly talking about his feudal legacy. BJP leaders stated that by projecting Scindia, Congress had downgraded the importance of tribal leader Kantilal Bhuria, the MP Congress President.

Scindia gave a befitting reply to the twin criticisms mounted by the BJP. He said that three members of Scindia family either were or are prominent leaders of the BJP. They include late Vijayaraje Scindia and her two daughters Vasundhararaje and Yashodhararaje. Credit goes to Vijayaraje for giving the BJP a strong base in MP. It may be mentioned that Vijayaraje was the grandmother of Jyotiraditya. His two aunts Vasundhararaje and Yashodhararaje are prominent leaders of the BJP. Vasundhara served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan and presently she is being projected as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in that state. Yashodhararaje is BJP member of the Lok Sabha. “Do the members of my family cease to be feudal the moment they become the part of the BJP?” Scindia asked.

As for downgrading Bhuria, Jyotiraditya posed a few questions and sought their reply from the BJP. He said that the Congress, traditionally, has been giving prominent place to tribal leaders. He said the Congress made late Shivbhanu Singh Solanki the Deputy Chief Minister of the state when Arjun Singh was the chief minister. Veteran tribal party leader Jamuna Devi was also deputy Chief Minister in the Digvijay Singh’s cabinet. After that, Jamuna Devi was made leader of the Opposition. She continued to occupy this position till her death.

Then, Bhuria was inducted into the Union Ministry and was later brought to Madhya Pradesh and was made the undisputed leader of the state Congress at a crucial juncture when the party was struggling to come to power in the state. He sought to know from the BJP, “Can it name a single tribal whom it elevated to any crucial position in the government or the party?”

During his first visit to Bhopal as chief of the Campaign Committee he held marathon meetings. Starting from 8 pm, the campaign committee continued its deliberations till past midnight. Scindia used Power Point Presentations to explain his programme of campaign. And after every presentation, he invited suggestions from the committee members.

Though Scindia’s active involvement in the campaigning for the polls, which are barely two months away, has aroused hopes in a section of the Congress rank and file, there are also lurking doubts that some factional leaders might try to block the rise of Scindia.

Former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, perhaps the most popular Congress leader after late Arjun Singh, has always been projected as a rival of the Scindia family. Their rivalry, in popular terms, is referred to as the battle between Raja and Maharaja.

However, it is clear that only a united Congress - from top to bottom and bottom to top - alone can give strength to the party to take on the BJP. The reason being that the BJP has already put in place a massive, aggressive electoral campaign machine The BJP has constituted polling booth-wise teams to take care of the election. Besides BJP workers, the party is also backed by members of various RSS parivar outfits.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Chouhan is continuing his whirlwind ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra.’ At the government level, massive efforts are being made to project the achievements of the BJP rule. However, care is being taken to project only such achievements, which were made after Chouhan became the Chief Minister. Little or no reference is made to the Chief Ministerial period of Uma Bharati and Babulal Gaur. Crores of rupees are being spent on the campaign to project Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Senior leaders, including some ministers, are sore over the over-projection of Chouhan. They feel that whatever hat been achieved is due to collective efforts of the party leaders and Ministers. A sort of personality cult has emerged in the state and this might give rise to factionalism in the party. (IPA Service)