Shivraj Singh Chouhan, seeking a fifth term as Madhya Pradesh chief minister in the elections later this year, is busy meeting different communities — Meena, Jat, Kushwaha, Ahir, Dhankhar, Prajapati and Gurjar — and wooing them with promises.

Seen as Narendra Modi’s competitor in 2014 — party patriarch L.K. Advani is believed to have wanted him as the BJP’s choice for Prime Minister — Shivraj’s eyes now are fixed only on retaining the chief minister’s chair.

His government has come up with the Ladli Behana scheme that hands out cash doles of Rs 1,000 every month to over 1.25 crore poor women. Shivraj’s managers believe the scheme will give the BJP an advantage. Two months into its launch, Shivraj has promised to scale up the dole to Rs 3,000 if he retains power.

At an informal interaction, Shivraj said Ladli Behana was for women’s empowerment, and not aimed at elections. He acknowledged battling anti-incumbency but said it could be countered by dropping MLAs facing “voter anger”.

Excerpts:

On the Ladli Behana scheme

A. Ladli Behana has not been rolled out with elections in mind. It is part of a series to empower women. As chief minister I had started the Ladli Laxmi scheme in 2007 to improve the sex ratio. The state government purchases national savings certificates for Rs 30,000 at the time of a girl child’s birth. When she reaches Class VI, Rs 2,000 is given, Rs 4,000 in Class IX, Rs 6,000 in Class XI and another Rs 6,000 in Class XII. When she turns 21, Rs 1 lakh is transferred to her account. I upgraded the scheme to ensure cash support till the girl graduates. This drastically improved the sex ratio and promoted education of girls.

We were the first state to implement 50 per cent reservation for women in the panchayats, followed by a 50 per cent quota in teaching jobs and 30 per cent reservation in police. The police brass opposed reservation but maine dadagiri se karwaya (I pressed ahead with it).

Ladli Behana is part of this series.

On going from “amiable Mama” to “bulldozer Mama”

A. I had always been tough on anti-social elements. When I became CM in 2006, I cracked down on the dacoits of Chambal. Dacoits were either killed or they surrendered. Then, I took on Simi activists.... Fear of the rule of law should be created among anti-socials. Strong action (like using bulldozers to demolish homes of culprits) should be taken for this.

On overcoming accumulated anti-incumbency

A. Every election is a challenge. There is always some anti-incumbency. The solution is to replace those against whom there is too much anti-incumbency. That doesn’t mean large-scale weeding out. Winnability will be the decider. I’m confident the development and welfare schemes will help us overcome anti-incumbency.

On the Congress promising Rs 1,500 for poor women

A. They are promising but we have already delivered. The Congress had stopped many welfare schemes when they were in power in 2018, so people will not trust them.

On the perception of fatigue, a tired government

A. This perception has been there since 2008. It’s not new. Everyone lovingly calls be ‘Mama’ and so I’m not worried.

On organisational problems over defectors from the Congress (like Jyotiraditya Scindia)

A. There are some problems when new members come but nothing serious. We are working together.

On allegation of corruption in recruitments

A. There were no appointments during the Congress’s rule and I have started recruitment for 1 lakh government jobs. Out of this, 55,000 have been done without any issue. However, recruitments should be transparent and above suspicion. So, till the allegations are cleared, the recruitments have been put on hold.

On unemployment

A. Loans with government guarantee and interest subsidy are being given for self-employment to over 2.5 lakh youths every month.

The latest is the Seekho Kamao Yojana (learn and earn). A bird gives wings to its children, and not nests. We are not giving unemployment doles but providing job training to youths. During training they get a stipend of Rs 8,000-10,000.