Not only is the Congress leadership divided, engaging in mudslinging, it is also handicapped by its leaders racing to take credit for highlighting the scam.

Despite the magnitude of the Vyapam scam, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appears to be safe for now, owing largely to the infighting within the opposition Congress.

While they put on a triumphant face in public, senior Congress leaders admit in private that they have not been able to take full advantage of the crisis. There is a strong perception in the party that some of its senior leaders are “compromised” and bound by personal favours extended by the BJP government. “Shivraj has got away cheaply. We [Congress leaders] could not raise the issue earlier as some of us are also a part of it,” a senior Congress leader said bluntly.

Not only is the Congress leadership divided, engaging in mudslinging, it is also handicapped by its leaders racing to take credit for highlighting the scam. Much of the State leaders’ heartburn stems from former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh’s attempts to ‘hijack’ the campaign.

Barring a few stray comments by leaders such as Babular Gaur, Mr. Chouhan has the full backing of the BJP and RSS. In such a scenario, the BJP feels confident that the Congress campaign will not sustain itself or result in electoral gains.

BJP State president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan said the surfacing of the Chief Minister’s name in the scam was part of a “devious conspiracy” to defame him. “The Congress knows how popular the CM is. They hope to earn some brownie points in the State by targeting him and damaging his image. But the lies have no footing and they will soon be exposed,” Mr. Chauhan said.

BJP leaders, however, admit that Mr. Chouhan’s “perfect” image, carefully cultivated over the past decade, has been sullied. But they also feel they have done well to control the damage, matching every manoeuvre of the Congress.

Mr. Chouhan, by projecting himself as the whistleblower and requesting a CBI inquiry, has succeeded in releasing the pressure on him for now. He is set to embark on a Swabhimaan Yatra, during which he will counter the allegations against him and recall his achievements as CM. Also, on July 23, on his completing 10 years in office — the first BJP Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh to accomplish this feat — Mr. Chouhan will hold a huge rally in a village Bhabra in Jhabua district, famous as the birthplace of freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad. The party’s instructions to the cadres and spokespersons are clear: “Shield the CM’s image and project him as the whistleblower.”

Other than an occasional clamour for Mr. Chouhan’s resignation, mainly through press conferences, the Congress has little to show for a plan of action. It has so far only cashed in on the revelations made by the whistleblowers. Not only has the Congress been unsuccessful in mobilising student support in highlighting Vyapam, it has repeatedly failed to make the scam an election issue. Curiously, the Congress even removed Vyapam from its manifesto in the recent civic elections.

48

deaths Noting that it will not allow even one more death, the Supreme Court transferred all criminal and death cases linked to the Vyapam scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a “fair and impartial” probe.

The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI probe into the multi-crore cash-for-jobs scam in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board that has resulted in unexplained deaths of key accused and witnesses. A Trail of graft and gore 1982: Vyaysayik Pareeksha Mandel (Vyapam) set up to conduct entrance examinations for pro-fessional courses

Vyaysayik Pareeksha Mandel (Vyapam) set up to conduct entrance examinations for pro-fessional courses 2008: Recruitment tests for government Jobs also included

Recruitment tests for government Jobs also included July 5, 2009: Widespread irregularities in recruitments come to light

Widespread irregularities in recruitments come to light 2009: Medical exam paper leaked; first complaint filed

Medical exam paper leaked; first complaint filed December, 2009: Chief Minister forms panel to probe scam

Chief Minister forms panel to probe scam Jul 7, 2013: Police register FIR, arrest 20 impersonators

Police register FIR, arrest 20 impersonators Jul 16, 2013: Jag-dish Sagar, kingpin of scam, arrested

Jag-dish Sagar, kingpin of scam, arrested Aug 26, 2013: STF takes over probe, 55 FIRs registered

STF takes over probe, 55 FIRs registered Oct 9, 2013: Admissions of 345 examinees cancelled

Admissions of 345 examinees cancelled Dec 18,2013: Ex-Higher Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma booked

Ex-Higher Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma booked Jun 29, 2015: SIT says 23 people related to scam died due to 'Unnatural causes"; unofficial count puts figure at 46

SIT says 23 people related to scam died due to 'Unnatural causes"; unofficial count puts figure at 46 July 7: Chouhan agrees to CBI probe The Whistleblowers Ashish Chaturvedi, 26-year-old social activist from Gwalior, claims CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan is a key player in the scam. Prashant Pandey, cyber expert roped in by the STF, retrieved key Vyapam files. Anand Rai, Indore-based RTI activist flied a PIL which led to the probe.