Emboldened by the top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party ruling out his ouster, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur asserted on Tuesday that there was no resentment among party members of legislative Assembly. He also said he has grown stronger to complete the full term after the political upheaval triggered by Uma Bharti loyalists.
"There has been a series of political upheavals. This time also the storm has subsided and I have emerged stronger," Gaur told reporters in Bhopal, a day after central BJP leaders checked a virtual revolt against him by Bharti loyalists, demanding her return at the helm.
Claiming that he was set to complete full term in office, Gaur said that after every attempt at destabilising him, central BJP leaders have made it amply clear that there would be no change of leadership in the state.
To a query, Gaur claimed there was no resentment among party legislators over his leadership and said he was not aware if some MLAs were 'pressurised' to mount a campaign for his ouster at Bharti's Dussehra celebrations.
"Even the ministers whose names figured in the campaign for leadership change, have expressed full confidence in my leadership and described me as the best leader," he claimed.
In fact, when asked to resign if they had lost faith in the present leadership, some of the ministers claimed that though they were not associated with the campaign, their names were unnecessarily dragged into it, the chief minister said.
"There was no question of any minister resigning as all of them expressed confidence in my leadership," Gaur said, adding that there was no political instability in the state.
Claiming that he did not contact central BJP leaders in the wake of the campaign against him, Gaur said the need for this did not arise as the leaders conveyed the message through the media.
Gaur also maintained that he did not hold any discussion on the matter with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief, K S Sudarshan, who was in Bhopal on October 16 to attend a function.
On the same day, high drama was staged following Bharti's Dussehra celebrations, where over 50 BJP MLAs and ministers had gathered, demanding change of guard.
On Dussehra programme at Bharti's residence, Gaur said it was a noble idea - "Had I been invited, I would have attended it. However, activities other than Dussehra celebrations dominated the programme, which the party high command did not appreciate."
Gaur claimed that he was unperturbed by moves against him, as his sole aim is to perform his work without allowing development to be hit by politics.