MP temple stampede: Can Chouhan's defence save BJP?

In response to a tweet from Anand Mahindra stating that there is an urgent need to declare a mission against temple stampedes and bring to bear “the same competence” that was displayed against the cyclone that was battering Odisha even as over a 100 died in a stampede outside a temple in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was not shy of admitting his agreement.  “Never again,” Chouhan promised, stating his commitment to ensuring that justice is served. Chouhan, known to be a soft-spoken achiever and an able administrator, has lived up to many commitments in the past. He claimed recently that with more than 90,000 km of roads, and non-stop supply of electricity, MP was no less than any of the developed states. Even his detractors will concede that alongside rapid development on various fronts, Chouhan has also built himself into a brand in the state. [caption id=“attachment_117245” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Campaigning ror Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a recent rally. Reuters[/caption] That’s why, for the BJP chief minister whose achievements have remained under the shadow of his Gujarat counterpart and the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, the stampede could not have happened at a worse time, less than two months before a critical Assembly election. The Congress, to nobody’s surprise, latched on to the tragedy even before rescue operations were officially declared ended, demanding the chief minister’s resignation. Asked repeatedly on a CNN-IBN show what real good for the people of the state could be achieved by the party politicising the issue even before 24 hours had passed, Congress spokesperson Anant Gadgil pointed out that there had been a similar tragedy at the very same spot five years back, with the same chief minister at the helm. “What lessons have been learnt?” Gadgil asked. Tragically, no lessons were learnt. The BJP, and Chouhan, have no choice but to go on the defensive, for the first time in the past many months. The well-liked and popular chief minister would have been more than taken aback at being heckled when he visited the injured in hospital. Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh had already accused the state government of encouraging corruption by auctioning lucrative posts in the police and administrative set-up, the Congress’ CM-candidate Jyotiraditya Scindia pointed out to people that an inept administration is definitely one that could not learn from an eeriely similar incident in 2006. Other Congress leaders including the voluble spokespersons in New Delhi attacked the BJP with not a little glee. The MP Assembly elections were largely believed to be one in the bag for the BJP, until now. Chouhan has spent the past few months further widening his reach, wearing the skull cap on Id in a pointed reference to Modi’s refusal to do so, singing the Sarva Dharma Sambhaav line and more. In fact, until the recent public snub the BJP leadership gave to party patriarch L K Advani, the latter had attempted to position Chouhan as the more acceptable alternative to the hardline Modi. But this weekend’s tragedy and the political fallout would be a definite setback. The BJP, in all probability, will get past this Ratangarh hurdle on its way to the polls, but not without picking up some bruises. Alongside the development plank, the Chouhan government’s biggest weapon this pre-poll season was its party-government cohesiveness and stability, in start contrast to the Congress’ factionalism and infighting. That image is taking a beating right now. Fissures had opened up with the big Modi rally in Bhopal last month – Firstpost had reported  that the Chouhan-Modi rivalry could hit the former’s election campaign. Those fissures within the BJP in Madhya Pradesh will doubtless widen now. Chouhan has attempted to appear in control, tweeting last night that a judicial panel will submit its report in two months’ time. “I have instructed CS & DGP to investigate and submit their report ASAP. Whoever is found guilty based on prima facie evidence will be punished after seeking necessary approval from the Election Commission,” he tweeted. But 115 dead at a Hindu religious site, including many women and children, is an emotive issue that a regrouped Congress state unit under the young Jyotiraditya Scindia will try to exploit effectively.