We are eyeing 2018 polls, says Vasundhara

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has completed three years of her second five-year term in power.

Weathering many storms, she has initiated several programmes for the state.
Well aware that her arch rival, the Congress, has been trying hard to regroup and mount a strong opposition in the state, she is ensuring that the Modi wave, which was there in the state when she took charge, does not slacken,  and BJP maintains the lead.

It became evident when the state BJP won 19 out of 37 seats in the by-polls held on November 30 for the local bodies,  despite an intense debate over demonetisation, which was implemented on the midnight of November 8.

On Sunday afternoon, within a day of her Cabinet expansion, she exuded complete confidence while speaking to DH, sitting against the backdrop of a majestic Shiva painting at her residence.

Elaborating on her plans, she said, “My eyes are on the 2018 polls and right now I am focusing on celebrating three years of the BJP rule in Rajasthan. We came up with 12 successful projects and would like to pursue them till the last day of our government. Prominent among them are the Direct Benefit Transfer; Bhamashah Yojana, a health and insurance scheme; Annapurna Bhandars; updation of ration shops with POS machines; and accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh for farmers.

“I would specially like to mention the Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Yojna. I am keen to start Annapurna Rasois (on the lines of Amma canteens that are running successfully in Tamil Nadu), which would provide quality food to the weaker sections at a highly subsidised rate,” the chief minister said.

Determined to implement the schemes, she added: “I think time has come for us to focus more on ground activities and get the projects executed very well. The promises made during the Resurgent Rajasthan and Global Rural Agritech Meet (GRAM) 

are being implemented. Encouraged by the success of GRAM, we are planning to have similar a meet at the divisional level as well. Niti Aayog has included Rajasthan among the top three states for agri-reforms.”

Raje said that in the next two years there will be no more announcements as six big Central projects are in the offing.

“Hopefully, we will be getting five more projects — a food and craft institute, hotel management institute, pharmaceutical college (sixth in the country) and world class universities. These have been approved in last year’s budget,” Vasundhara added.

Taking a cue from Bhutan, she laid emphasis on increasing the state’s happiness index by expanding projects like toy banks, book banks and a mobile library.