Bhopal: In the election year, various ways to woo people to win their favour are being explored. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has sent letter to more than 50 lakh women on the festival of Rakshabandhan. The letter extending greetings on the festival has solicited reply in the form of missed call, Whatsapp message or SMSs. \
This has been done to ensure that the message has reached its destination. The missed call would lead to creating a data bank, which would help the BJP during elections. Chouhan is said to be quite popular amongst women in the state. Chouhan has the image of ‘Mama’ which is very effective in fetching votes of women and girls in favour of the BJP. Chouhan by sending this letter has tried to appease women voters.
It was in 2003 assembly polls, when BJP got support from women voters. The support to BJP from women voters further increased in the assembly elections of 2008 and 2013 during Chouhan’s tenure. On the contrary, there is no leader in Congress, who enjoys popularity among women voters.
In the upcoming assembly polls, around 2.34 crore women voters will exercise their franchise. Women voters play a decisive role in winning or losing of any elections. Earlier, Chouhan wrote farmers and students but it is first time when a letter has been sent on such a large scale.
Chouhan in his letter has mentioned about Ladli Laxmi Yojana, Medhavi Vidhyarthi Yojana and loan for self employment during his government. Works like Kanyadaan and Nikah Yojana for girls, 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies elections and education have been recounted.
Congress has been raising the issue of women atrocities in the state. Congress is making rising in rapes and women atrocities as its election issues. Chouhan through his letter is drawing the attention of women about the works done by the BJP government for their welfare.