The last such elections were held in 1997. But Singh denied charges that he was influencing appointment of key personnel for the election process, such as returning officers, to ensure election of his favorite candidates and enlarging his support base in the party. Singh also indicated the party could consider a tribal leader for the position of chief minister for the new state of Chhatisgarh that is being carved out of his home state, Madhya Pradesh, and comes into existence from November 1. It is not a tribal versus non-tribal issue. But it is a tribal dominated area.
People have a way of giving their own message.
If a person or a party is able to decipher this message, then there will be success. Singh also denied that the Congress Party had failed to make an impact as the principal opposition, both inside Parliament and outside, in the last two years. The Congress Party is not an opposition which is going to be loud and demonstrative only. The main thing is the commitment and constant policies and programs of the Congress party which it has pronounced, outlined after Mrs. Gandhi became president. That is Gujarat.