BJP will play role of a vigilant, constructive opposition in MP: Shivraj

Taking moral responsibility for the defeat in the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, outgoing Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that the BJP will now play the role of a "vigilant and constructive opposition".

He said that he did his best to get Madhya Pradesh out of the "pathetic situation" after he took as chief minister 13 years ago and made every effort for the welfare of the people and development of the state.

"Despite all the support from the central leadership and pro-people schemes of the Central and the state governments, we could not get the results to our expectations. We fell short of majority and I take all the responsibility for the party's defeat in the state. I could not meet the expectations of people and I failed," he said.

He was addressing a press conference after tendering his resignation to Governor Anandiben Patel at the Raj Bhavan here.

Chouhan said the BJP, which got 109 seats in the 230-member assembly, would play the role of a "strong and responsible opposition".

"We will play a constructive role for the development of the state and if need be we will protest and act as a vigilant watchman. We are not those who will take rest after getting defeated. We will start working as opposition from today itself," he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader hoped that the new government would continue with the pro-people schemes and projects run by his government.

He said that now it was the Congress' turn to fulfil the poll promises it made to the people of the state in its 'vachan patra' (manifesto).

"Rahul Gandhi (Congress President) had said that his party would implement the loan waiver for farmers within 10 days after assuming office. And he had also said that if the Chief Minister fails to implement the farm loan waiver then he shall be changed. So it is their turn now to fulfil the commitments," he said.

He added that the BJP would also start preparing for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the state from now on.

Asked what he discussed with Madhya Pradesh Congress President Kamal Nath, Chouhan said, "It was a courtesy meeting. I congratulated him for the victory."

"Even when we lost, I called up Kamal Nath to congratulate him," he added.

--IANS

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