Chouhan happy that new Govt free from ally pulls and pressures - Hindustan Times
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Chouhan happy that new Govt free from ally pulls and pressures

PTI | By, Bhopal
May 24, 2009 04:01 PM IST

Though upset over the defeat of the BJP-led NDA in the LS polls, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he is "happy" as the people have given a nearly clear mandate to the new government liberating it from the "pulls and pressures" of the allies.

Though upset over the defeat of the BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he is "happy" as the people have given a nearly clear mandate to the new government liberating it from the "pulls and pressures" of the allies.

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"If senior BJP leader L K Advani had become the Prime Minister, the future of the country would have been different," Chouhan told PTI in an interview.

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"But as a person I am happy that the people have given a clear mandate (though a little bit short) and the government has enough opportunity to perform," said the BJP leader.

"The people have given their due to those who indulged in politics of manipulation and have given a clear verdict and adequate opportunity for the government to perform. Besides, it has shown the right place to those parties which have enjoyed fruits of power for over four years and then parted ways," he said.

The regional parties and the Left have "misused" their position by exerting "undue" pressure over the government every now and then, Chouhan said adding, they were of the opinion that without them nothing will happen.

"The people this time have grounded them liberating the government from the pulls and pressures of the allies," he said.
When pointed out that in comparison to UPA, NDA was better placed as its allies were intact, Chouhan said that it was the people's decision which should be honoured.

Asked about the dismal performance of the BJP as compared to last year's assembly elections and 2004 parliamentary polls when it had won 25 of the total 29 seats in the state, Chouhan said that the party will review its performance and will look into all the aspects.

On the poor performance of the party in the areas where BJP ministers were deputed, he said "it was surprising." He said that he will discuss the issue individually with all the ministers in whose areas the party has fared badly.
However, he said that in a democracy, victory and defeat are part of the system. "If the same results come every time then how the democracy will survive?".

The Chief Minister also said that though the BJP's seats have been reduced as compared to 2004 elections, its vote percentage is higher than the Congress and much better than what it was during Congress government's tenure. The BJP has won 16 seats this time as compared to 25 in 2004.

When asked about the allegations levelled by him during electioneering on the issue of step-motherly treatment being meted out to the state in terms of supply of coal and drought relief assistance among others, Chouhan said they were "not allegations, but reality".

He said that he was forced to take an agitational path as no assistance was being given to the state.

When told that he had once described Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a "mask", the Chief Minister said he was not the only one to say so. There were two power centres and one of them was more powerful, he added.

However, he said "those were the issues of polls and now the elections are over and Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister of my country and I hope that he will do justice to the states."

"I will personally go to Delhi to congratulate him and draw his attention towards the problems of the people of the state," he added.

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