I've never tried to grow bigger than party: Raman Singh

Raipur, Oct 31 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has said the secret to his non-controversial five-year-rule was that he never tried to grow bigger than the organisation and sought better coordination between the party and the government.

Dr Singh made the statement while replying to a question about completing his five year tenure without any controversy whereas discontent with leadership was common in other BJP-ruled states.

He said he was satisfied that he had been able to achieve better coordination between the party and the government.

''Before implementing every important decision, attempt has been made to build consensus during party core group meetings,'' Dr Singh said, adding, that he faced difficulty to obtain permission, as he considered himself as a party worker.

He said he was always eager to meet ordinary people and had no qualms about meeting ordinary party workers.

The BJP had come to power in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan together. While two Chief Ministers were changed in Madhya Pradesh, voices of dissent had been raised against party leadership in Rajasthan.

Attributing successful implementation of government schemes to cooperation from people's representatives from the party, Dr Singh said he would endeavour to work together with everyone.

Rejecting that whatever happened in the BJP in Jashpur was decided by senior party leader Dilip Singh Judeo, he denied that minister Ganeshram Bhagat was denied ticket from Jashpur due to anger of Mr Judeo.

''Mr Judeo is a senior party leader and seeking his advice on any matter is natural but denying ticket to Mr Bhagat was altogether a different matter,'' he said.

Pointing out that Mr Bhagat was a state-level tribal leader but he failed to do much work as a minister, Dr Singh said he was provided ticket from Sitapur from where the party has been loosing.

He described opposition against Mr Bhagat in Sitapur as temporary phase.

On denying tickets to sitting legislators but overlooking report against ministers, the Chief Minister said no one has been targeted or spared and decisions had been taken keeping possibility of victory in mind.

Refusing that any prominent leader had been provided seats in quota, he said there was no quota system in the BJP.

Claiming that the party would return to power, he said he undertook 'Vikas Yatra' in the past three months and established direct communication with people but did not find anti-party sentiments.

On the other hand, he received accolades for schemes such as rice at Rs three per kg and salt at 25 paise per kg.

He, however, said he was not complacent. The party would enter the electoral battle with well-planned strategy given that there was direct contest with the Congress in the state and difference of votes was around one per cent in several cases.

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