After sweeping Madhya Pradesh civic polls, BJP asks Congress to introspect

NEW DELHI: Having won eight out of 10 civic bodies that went to polls on August 12 in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP on Sunday targeted Congress for attacking it on Vyapam scam. While PM Narendra Modi, finance minister Arun Jaitley and MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan thanked voters for their support, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi asked Congress to do some "self introspection".

Congress had paralyzed Parliament in the monsoon session over Vyapam scam among other issues. The victory is likely to ease some pressure on Chouhan who has been facing demands for his resignation over the admissions and recruitment scandal.

After the results were announced on Sunday, Modi tweeted, "MP civic poll results are gladdening. I thank people of MP for reposing their trust in BJP. I salute efforts of karyakartas (workers) and party leaders."

Chouhan quickly reacted with this tweet, "Thank you very much for your continued support and faith. MP will continue to work under your dynamic leadership."

Attacking Congress, Chouhan tweeted, "State is moving rapidly on the path of development. It has no place for negative politics. The sooner opposition realizes it, the better."

Jaitley, who has been at the forefront in defending the party's ministers against Congress allegations, tweeted, "Congratulations to voters and party workers on the historic victory of BJP in Madhya Pradesh civic body elections."

Spokesperson Trivedi was more open while attacking the Congress. "The success of BJP is an indication of development politics ... We would like to say Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi need to be more practical. They need to do self-introspection," he said.

Trivedi said the Congress's chief strategists in Madhya Pradesh, which include both senior leaders as well as youth leaders, also need to reconsider their strategy in the face of defeat in the civic body polls.

The success of the party in these polls is a "reaction" and "anger" of the people of Madhya Pradesh against those who tried to tarnish the image of the party in the state, he said.

BJP has registered victories in Morena, Ujjain, Harda, Chakghat in Rewa district, Bhainsdehi in Betul district, Kotar in Satna, Suwasara in Mandsaur and Vidisha municipal bodies.

BJP had swept the civic polls in the state held earlier this year. Elections in the 10 municipal bodies could not be held then due to various reasons.

Responding to a question on Pakistan, Trivedi said India always strived for good relations with Pakistan but not at the cost of its territorial integrity and dignity.