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No soft corner for BSP, says Congress

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee president Ajay Singh said here on Saturday that in the coming Assembly election both his party and the BJP would have to counter the challenge posed by political parties trying to make inroads from the neighbouring State (Uttar Pradesh).

“It is in the best interest of the State if politics remained polarised between the Congress and the BJP in Madhya Pradesh,” he said, adding that there was no question of adopting a soft posture towards the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Mr. Singh was addressing media persons for the first time after assuming his post as chairman of the State Congress Campaign Committee. PCC president Suresh Pachouri joined him on the occasion.

Asked whether he was heading the Campaign Committee because he was the son of the senior Congress leader and Union Minister Arjun Singh or on merits, Mr. Singh said he had been selected by the party president Sonia Gandhi and would do everything to justify the faith reposed in him.

Asked how he plans to deal with those considered as his father’s opponents in the party, Mr. Singh said there could be differences of opinion but there were neither opponents nor factions within the party. Even if some leaders have differences of opinion with his father, it would be his endeavour to take everyone along, he said, adding that the Congress would succeed in the coming electoral battle only if all join hands for electioneering.

Mr. Singh said Congress would go to the people on two main issues: the achievements of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre and the failure of the State BJP Government to meet its pre-election promises. He said rampant corruption, from top to bottom, and poor law and order situation with emphasis on rising crime against women would also be taken up as major election issues.

Mr. Singh said there was absolute unity and the Congress campaign in Madhya Pradesh would begin from the predominantly tribal districts of Shahdol (March 17) and Mandla (March 18).

In March-end they plan to have a major event at Betul to be attended by all senior State Congress leaders, he added.

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No soft corner for BSP, says Congress

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