For the last three-and-a-half-years, the leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh justified ‘Operation Lotus’ — a big political crisis to topple the Kamal Nath-led Congress government, saying the step was “a need of the hour” to protect the “interests of the people” of the state.
The BJP also accused the previous Kamal Nath government of not fulfilling the promises made to the people.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose defection (switching to BJP from Congress) was considered the main reason behind the success of BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ in March 2020, addressing a poll rally in Gwalior, has recently said he made the decision to protect the people.
He even asked his supporters “if his decision was right or wrong?”
On the other hand, the opposition Congress led by state unit chief Kamal Nath, along with his over four-decades old political colleague and two-time Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh, maintained that the BJP hatched a big conspiracy to topple the government in March 2020.
Both these veteran Congress leaders have repeatedly called Jyotiraditya Scindia a “traitor” on different occasions.
Even during the campaign, the Congress kept training guns on two key BJP leaders – Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The BJP tried its best to counter the Congress’ attacks by putting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on front. However, the opposition, especially Kamal Nath, continued targeting CM Chouhan and his old political colleague — Scindia, whose defection caused the end of his regime within 15 months.
After Kamal Nath’s government collapsed in March 2020, in almost every public rally, he spoke of how his government was toppled, and questioned “what was his mistake?”
Besides, during his speeches, he also spoke of the work done during his 15-month regime, which included waiving off farmers’ loans, building 1,000 Gaushalas, etc.
Apart from highlighting the achievements of his short period of government, Kamal Nath focused on highlighting the “failure of CM Chouhan”, while telling the people that the BJP cheated them by making “false promises”.
At the same time, he constantly kept speaking about “how his government was toppled through a conspiracy”.
For the last three-and-a-half-years, Kamal Nath-led Madhya Pradesh unit Congress also raised questions about Scindia’s credibility by criticising him for “backstabbing”.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, who led the entire campaign, on the last day slammed Scindia, saying: “Kad me chhote hain lekin ghamand bahot hai. (Scindia is a man of short height but high arrogance).”
She further went on to say “Unhone apne pariwar ki parampara achhe se nibhai hai. (He is living up to the traditions of his family).”
She made these remarks on Scindia in a sarcastic manner to raise questions about his credibility, and to present him as “traitor” among the people of his own bastion — the Gwalior-Chambal region.
With all the campaigning, attacks and counter-attacks coming to an end, the central Indian state is now set to witness election to the 230-member Assembly on Friday (November 17).
A political analyst said: “Around 5.59 crore voters of Madhya Pradesh would now decide whether ‘Operation Lotus’ was in their interests, or against their mandate of the 2018 election.”
The results will be announced on December 3.
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