Ego clashes among ministers expose BJP infighting: Cong

Raipur, January 31, 2012 

The Congress on Tuesday said that ego clashes between ministers of the state had exposed infighting in the ruling BJP. “While the ministers make every attempt to demean each other, the Chief Minister too has joined the bandwagon and has locked horn with the Home Minister. This high profile ego clash has deeply affected the

development of the state,” said the Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla.

He said the recent meeting convened by Raipur parliamentarian Ramesh Bais was apparently aimed to put big question on CM’s ability to run the government. Notably, the meeting was attended by PWD Minister Brijmohan Agrawal, Urban Administration Minister Rajesh Munat and senior officials. In the meeting, Bais had expressed his annoyance over deceleration in developmental works in Raipur.

“If Bais really wanted development in capital city then he would have surely invited RMC Mayor and MiC members to know their opinion about the current scenario,” said Shukla. “Besides Bais, the BJP parliamentarians Dilip Singh Judeo and Nandkumar Sai too criticise the CM and his government sporadically.

Now, the cult is being adopted by the BJP’s second and third rung leaders.” He said.

“The tussle for power between Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ramvichar Netam and BJP legislator Renuka Singh in Sarguja division is widely known. Similar is the condition in Durg district where the frequent feuds between MP Saroj Pandey and former Assembly Speaker Premprakash Pandey’s factions have become an order of the day. In Bilaspur, Health Minister Amar Agrawal has locked horn with the

office-bearers of constitutional bodies,” he said.

“Moreover, the Raipur district witness cold war between PWD Minister Brijmohan Agrawal and Urban Administration Minister Rajesh Munat. When Agrawal ensured sanctioning of rescue platform for fire fighting

department to extend the rescue operations till tenth floor of any building, Munat interfered and prevented the purchase of the specific item,” Shukla said.

“Similarly, Agrawal too want the proposed spot of toll plaza at Ring Road No 1 to remain at the same place because it will create public ire and the target will be Munat who is MLA from the particular constituency. While Munat, on the other hand, directs officials to take action against shopkeepers and residents in Agrawal’s legislative constituency on pretext of anti-encroachment drives. But the enmity of these ministers is directly affecting development works in the capital,” he said.