Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress were quick to announce measures ahead of the upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh. The announcements came just hours before the arrival of Home Minister Amit Shah in Bhopal for discussions with top BJP leaders.
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath pledged to waive farm loans and pending electricity bills for farmers once his party comes to power in the state. These waivers are part of the Kisan Nyay Yojana, which also guarantees at least 12 hours of uninterrupted free electricity for 5 HP water pumps used by farmers. Furthermore, the scheme promises to withdraw cases filed against farmers due to protests during the current BJP regime in the state. This move by Mr. Nath comes amidst reports that the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is planning to launch a scheme providing cooking gas cylinders to women at a subsidized rate of ₹500, which is identical to one of Congress’s five election promises.
The Kisan Nyay Yojana, targeted towards approximately 150 rural constituencies out of a total of 230, is seen as an attempt to garner support from farmers for the upcoming elections. It is believed that the ruling BJP is gradually regaining lost ground in Madhya Pradesh, especially after the central leadership of the party took charge of the entire poll management.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed a month-long Vikas Parva event in Singrauli, an eastern district of Madhya Pradesh, and made several announcements aimed at the welfare of tribals and women. He announced the distribution of umbrellas to Tendu leaf collectors across the state under the existing Charan Paduka Yojana, with ₹200 being credited to their bank accounts.
The Charan Paduka Yojana, initiated in 2018 to benefit 15 lakh Tendu leaf collectors, previously provided slippers, sarees, and water flasks to the beneficiaries. Additionally, Chouhan declared the inclusion of the Baiga tribe, classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG), among the district’s most backward tribes. These moves are seen as efforts to address the concerns of tribal communities and women in the state.
