When a large section of the media, especially the news channels, are busy pitting personalities and leaders belonging to leading political parties against each other and are engaged in a full-throated debate about who would be the most popular prime ministerial candidate if elections are held immediately, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is on an entirely different trip as he has set his eyes on the Assembly elections due later this year in Madhya Pradesh and is working full-time to accomplish “Mission 2013”.
When this correspondent asked the chief minister how he would compare his ongoing work with concerns for the masses expressed at the Congress chintan shivir in Jaipur, Mr Chouhan said that he is completely focused in his efforts aimed at ensuring the welfare of the masses and all-round development. Running the affairs of the state is serious business and he would not like to be drawn into a debate having political connotations. On being asked whether he expects his party to sweep the Assembly elections to be held later this year, Mr Chouhan said, there is no room for complacency when you enter the election arena.
In order to take the youth of Madhya Pradesh on his side, the chief minister has announced a cent per cent loan guarantee up to a limit of `25 lakhs to help the youth in setting up self-employment units. This announcement came at a huge yuva panchayat in the state capital on January 16.