CM Mohan Yadav
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and MP Smriti Irani filed her nomination for Amethi Lok Sabha seat on Monday. During this period, many big leaders including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav were present. Dr. Mohan Yadav said that a new history has been made in Amethi. The way the crowd has come and I have become a witness to it, our sister Smriti Irani ji is a great candidate. Now it remains to be seen who Congress will forcefully bring as its candidate? Earlier a royal family used to fight for this seat, which has now fled from here. On the possibility of making Priyanka Gandhi the candidate from Amethi in place of Rahul, Dr. Yadav said that she will also run.
Our correspondent had a special conversation with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Dr. Yadav also answered all the questions openly. Here are the main excerpts from the conversation with him-
The opposition welcomes you very much in Uttar Pradesh. The question arises that what does Mohan Yadav want to achieve here?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: I don’t know what they say. But the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to make the country number one in the world. In such a situation, it is our responsibility to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Amethi was under the control of a royal family, which wanted to suppress the local leadership from generation to generation. I am happy that last time Smriti Irani established democracy here. There was a myth that the so called royal family never loses, they ran away from here. Now don’t know what they will do? Their condition is very bad due to fear.
How will the fight be for Rahul Gandhi family in Amethi?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: BJP soldiers are never afraid and last time our sister has defeated them. Be it Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi, whoever files nomination from here, BJP has openly proved its popularity among the people here. Won the last election. Whoever comes, will not be able to stand in front of Smriti Irani ji.
Will the equations of Amethi change if Priyanka Gandhi becomes the candidate?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: Smriti Irani ji has done so much work in Amethi that it will not make any difference if anyone comes here to contest elections. It doesn’t matter to me what former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav says. Being a BJP worker, I tell the goodness of the party to both my society and the country. BJP does not work on dynasticism. The party has honored an ordinary worker like me by making him the Chief Minister. The party runs on this in the entire country. We do not have to be limited to one family. Our fight is against the so-called family spirit.
Does BJP want to reach out to the Yadav votebank by making you the face in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: I’m going to seven states. I am not visiting only Bihar and UP. I am also a resident of Azamgarh, later our family reached Madhya Pradesh and today we are fulfilling our responsibilities from there. The message should be sent among our people that there is no contract for any one family here. Everyone is welcome here. One can come from any family. I am an example of this and I am also proud of this.
Will you be able to rally your community?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: The one who serves the people, who lives among the people, will be victorious in the elections. Such a big example has been seen in Amethi. Those people ran away from here, not knowing where they wanted to live, neither wanting to live here nor there.
Do political opponents in UP make big comments on your tours?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: Our Yadav brothers have been ministers in every cabinet of UP. Did the opposition ever make people from outside their own family the Chief Minister? Those who speak should tell when will they give a chance to others? What are the people of the arrogant alliance doing? It’s the same thing, these went and those came, those went and these came, it should be of the family only, because we don’t trust outsiders.
What is going to happen in Madhya Pradesh this time?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: There is no other party left. In 2014 we won 27 out of 29, in 2019 we won 28. This time we are winning all the seats. Chhindwara was left, the feedback from the people there is saying that we have won the elections. Formality remains. The Election Commission will make the announcement as and when it is announced.
What has happened in Chhindwara that you are sure about?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: Whatever was done in Amethi, he will do in Chhindwara. A family had been in possession of Amethi for years. We were successful in telling this to the people. This time we have been successful in spreading this message to the people in Chhindwara also. What was done in Amethi, he will do in Chhindwara also.
Has voting decreased in Madhya Pradesh compared to 2019?
Dr. Mohan Yadav: The Election Commission makes efforts to increase the voting percentage. We do too. Harvesting season is going on. It was wedding season. There was a lot of sunshine also. There were many reasons which affected the voting. The biggest reason was that Congress people were not coming out. There is no enthusiasm left in them.