Bhopal: V D Sharma, the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh, criticized former Chief Minister Kamal Nath's recent post on social media directed at first-time voters. Sharma made these remarks during a media interaction in Bhopal on October 5. He highlighted that there are approximately 53 lakh voters in the state aged between 18 and 23 years. Sharma emphasized the opportunities provided to the youth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He stated that the BJP government is committed to fostering youth leadership and development. Sharma questioned the credibility of the promises made by the Congress party during the 2018 assembly polls, directed at the youth. He specifically mentioned a promise of providing a Rs 4,000 unemployment allowance to young people and criticized the Congress for not fulfilling this commitment during its 15-month rule in the state. Sharma asserted that the youth in Madhya Pradesh would hold Kamal Nath and the Congress accountable for their unfulfilled promises and perceived neglect. He expressed confidence that the youth would respond to these issues in the upcoming elections. Earlier in the day on October 5, Kamal Nath had taken to social media to congratulate the over 22 lakh first-time voters aged 18 to 19 years who will participate in the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections. In his post, Nath appealed to these young voters to cast their ballots with their own future and the state's welfare in mind. He accused the BJP of failing to provide quality education, training, employment opportunities, and policy plans for the youth. Madhya Pradesh is gearing up for state assembly elections scheduled later this year. The state will elect legislators from 230 Assembly constituencies. In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress came to power, with Kamal Nath serving as Chief Minister. However, a political upheaval in 2020 led to the BJP forming the government, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan returning as Chief Minister, following the defection of Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 loyalist MLAs from the Congress to the BJP. Anti-Terror Conference 2023: Deliberating Strategies to Combat Terrorism Supreme Court Seeks Clarification on AAP's Absence as 'Accused' in Delhi Liquor Policy Case Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Seeks Moratorium on State Debt Repayment, Citing Loan Increase