Chouhan asks Cong to fulfil Rahul's loan waiver promise in MP

Acting chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday asked the Congress to make good on party chief Rahul Gandhi's campaign promise of farm loan waiver.

Chouhan resigned earlier in the day after the Congress emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections.

"Rahul Gandhi has promised to waive farmers' loans within ten days of coming to power or change the chief minister. They must fulfil his promise," Chouhan said, speaking to reporters here.

The BJP would play the role of constructive opposition in the state, he said.

During the campaign, Gandhi had promised to write off farmers' loans within ten days of the Congress coming to power. The promise was also part of the party's manifesto.

"Now it is our responsibility to play the role of chowkidar (watchman)," Chouhan said. "We are not going to sit silent," he added.

The BJP would soon start preparations for the Lok Sabha elections so that it again forms government at the Centre under Narendra Modi's leadership, Chouhan said.

Talking about the BJP's performance in the state, Chouhan, a three-time chief minister, said, "The complete responsibility of the defeat is mine alone. Party workers worked hard, people too gave us their love, but we fell short of numbers despite getting more votes (than the Congress)."
Asked why his party's slogan of "Abki Baar-200 Paar" (More than 200 seats this time) could not become reality, Chouhan said, "The CM has failed."