The Congress failed to ensure the victory of even a single mayor. During the one year of Modi regime, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan not only continued to be undisputed leader of the party but on the contrary appeared stronger when he could manage to place his favorite as the Chief of the organisation wing of the party. His nominee Nand Kumar Chauhan and himself are working in total cohesion. Both Chauhans have become the symbol of collective leadership. When Narendra Modi became Prime Minister everybody expected that he may try to destabilise Chauhan who was projected by L.K. Advani as the alternative to Modi for the post of Prime Ministership. But far from doing so, Modi showered praise on Chauhan from various party and government platforms. Not only Modi even BJP President Amit Shah also hailed Chauhan's leadership. Though the state continued to gain notoriety because of multi crore and multi-facet VYAPAM scam, nothing was done by the party high command to find out the truth. Serious charges were levelled by the Congress against Chauhan but he continued to enjoy central leadership's confidence.

While these are the positive aspects of Modi's one year as for state of affairs in Madhya Pradesh is concerned, but the most negative aspect relates to the massive cut in the central grants given to various welfare and developmental schemes.

According to analysis done by experts, cut in the allocation of central share has affected 89 schemes and projects. There were some such schemes for which hundred percent grant was given by the centre. But now the quantity has been reduced to fifty percent. These schemes are food security mission, Horticulture mission, sustainable agriculture, National Agriculture Mission, Rural Drinking water, Urban drinking water, Medical areas, Urban housing, primary education, secondary education, higher education, vocational education, Indira Housing, Rural Employments, Irrigation management, Development of Industries and Tourism Development.

Besides there are some schemes which have been scrapped. They include Backward Regional grant fund. The worst affected is JNNURM. According to a tentative estimate, the cut involves amount to the tune of eleven thousand crores. Last year the central allocation for these schemes was 24 thousand crores. Now it has been reduced to thirteen thousand crores. The cut in central allocation has affected several areas of development and also several ongoing schemes.

According to a circular issued by the Finance department last year, centre gave Rs. 511.78 crores for National Agriculture scheme. This year state will get Rs. 334.33 crores. For rivers linking scheme, allocation is mere Rs. 6.17 crore. For National Health Mission, Centre has allocated Rs. 1093 crores which is much less than last year's allocation. Last year Skill Development Scheme received Rs. 66.11 crore but this year it has been reduced to Rs. 61.75 crore. Last year centre gave Rs. 51.15 crore for disbursement of stipends to scheduled cast children's. But this year there is no allocation for this head, for e-governance this year's allocation is Rs. 19.51 crore against last year's Rs. 50 crores, for women's medical education last year's allocation was Rs. 100 crores. But this year the allocation is mere Rs. one crore. For National Handloom programme the allocation is mere Rs. one crore and 61 lakh. Allocation for Jawaharlal Nehru urban mission is zero and for backward regional grant fund also allocation is zero against last year's Rs. 221.22 crore.

Besides the above listed projects, the other important schemes which will not get central assistance are fisheries, development of integrated agriculture, establishing zonal cultural centre, for developing excellence in higher education, Scheduled Caste Development Finance Corporation, development of OBC students, Tribal festivals, Tribal sub-plan, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and extension and development of adolescent.

There are many such schemes which may not be implemental if the centre declines to help financially. These schemes are forest management, Land Record Extension, Food Security Mission, Horticulture Mission, Nirmal Bharat Campaign. Aides Central Projects, Sarva Shiksha Scheme, Teacher Training, Indira Housing Scheme, watershed mission, scheduled caste education mission and development of children, police modernisation, Excellence School. Women empowerment. The arbitrary cut in allocation for various schemes have put a question mark on Chief Minister's rapport with the Prime Minister. Most of the cuts have adversely affected health and education.

Chauhan's most favourite scheme was the payment of bonus to farmers on their produce. The central government refused to give its share for this scheme. Opposition used to allege because of this scheme, farmers from Border States used to sell wheat and another produce in MP. Because of the inflow of wheat from other states, Chauhan used to claim extraordinary rise in the wheat production of MP.

One can only imagine if the Manmohan Singh government would have made such drastic cuts, the BJP would have made hue and cry and would have made life miserable for the central government. But now they are playing the role of mute observer. They would have resorted to dharna, hunger strike and Rail Roko Andolan. But despite such humiliation not only the ruling party, but the opposition is also keeping silent. (IPA Service)