"As long as Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister and I am the CM, nobody can end reservations," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
Ahead of the November 21 by-election to Ratlam-Jhabua Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today asserted that there would be no rethink on the issue of reservations.
"As long as Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister and I am the CM, nobody can end reservations," Mr Chouhan said at campaign meetings at Bori and Baledi villages in the district.
Ratlam-Jhabua constituency, where the by-election was necessitated by the death of BJP's Dilip Singh Bhuria, is reserved for the scheduled tribes.
The row over the issue of reservations had erupted during the Bihar Assembly elections after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement calling for a review of the policy.
Mr Chouhan today said that Congress distorted Mr Bhagwat's statement and was "playing politics" over it.
Congress and other opposition parties have made the issue a major poll plank during the campaign.
Mr Chouhan sought votes for BJP for a rapid and coordinated progress of the area, reminding the audience that BJP was in power both at the Centre and the state.
He pointed out the welfare measures of his government such as one kg of rice at Re one for the poor and agricultural loans at zero percent interest.