Cartoons show Chhattisgarh minister as ‘Superman’

Cartoons depicting Chhattisgarh panchayat raj minister Ajey Chandrakar, who has hogged the limelight in recent times for all wrong reasons, as “Superman” have gone viral on social networking sites, inviting ridicule from the Opposition Congress.

Mr Chandrakar, whose image has suffered a serious beating following a series of alleged unsavoury incidents involving him, has been projected as a “Superman” in one of the cartoons, horribly busy in accomplishing his task. Taking a potshot at the media, the cartoon shows how a reporter was running after him for his interview and vows to defame him when he was ignored by him. Another caricature shows mediamen running after him for his interview, but he refuses to oblige.

A cartoon also describes how only two ministers in Raman Singh cabinet were working hard during the ongoing “Lok Suraj Abhiyan”, a campaign launched by the chief minister to connect to the rural mass in the state, while other members in the ministry were on vacations.

The cartoons have sparked resentment both within the ruling BJP and outside forcing the minister to steer clear of them.

“I have no role to play in circulation of the cartoons. Some art enthusiasts may have created the caricatures to unleash their creativity”, Mr Chandrakar quipped.

In an apparent attempt to preempt chances of the cartoon creating any kind of rift in his ministry, chief minister Raman Singh promptly clarified that all his ministers were toiling to make the “Lok Suraj” campaign a success.

Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) president Bhupesh Baghel however described it as an “image makeover” exercise to refurbish the image of the minister, who has “a penchant for controversies”.

Mr Chandrakar has been facing charges of misbehaving with women officers of his department.