People of Madhya Pradesh want change and BJP is going to lose the election by a huge margin, says State Congress chief Kamal Nath

Between hectic campaigning in his bastion of Chhindwara, Mr. Nath takes some time out to talk to The Hindu about his party’s campaign.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath asserted that the people of the State will vote out the BJP as they are looking for a change.

“I have been in politics for 45 years and can read their sentiments. People of Madhya Pradesh want change and the BJP is going to lose the elections by a huge margin,” Mr. Nath told The Hindu in an interview.

The Congress veteran also categorically denied the charge that he was overtly playing the “Hindu card” in trying to woo voters by holding a programme of Dhirendra Shashtri, the head priest of Bageshwar Dham, a revered shrine in the State.

“As far as Bageshwar Dham Baba is concerned, if he announced a programme for Chhindwara, I can’t stop him. I happened to be here and attended it. It was a sarv dharam arti for all religions. He never spoke about Hindutva here, only talked about Kamal Nath and Chhindwara. What is the Hindutva here?” Mr. Nath asked.

Alleging corruption and scams under the present regime, Mr. Nath also questioned why did Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan implement the Ladli Behna scheme, offering a monthly sum of ₹1,500, earlier. “The BJP has been in government for 18 years, so wasn’t the behen [sister] ladli [dear] before that?” he asked.

Breaking away from its tradition, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh had unambiguously declared Kamal Nath as its chief ministerial candidate. Between hectic campaigning in his bastion of Chhindwara, Mr. Nath takes some time out to talk to The Hindu about his party’s campaign. Edited excerpts.