BJP’s alleged pressure tactics on villages criticised by Arif Masood

Arif Masood accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using coercive methods to mobilise voters in rural Madhya Pradesh. He recalled how, during Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s tenure, government programmes were turned into opportunities to fill buses with villagers, often under pressure from sarpanches and gram panchayat leaders.

“The practice of forcing Anganwadi workers and other community members to attend political rallies has become a relic of the past, yet it still resurfaces during elections,” Masood said. He called for a transparent approach that respects the autonomy of village institutions and does not rely on intimidation to secure votes.