New Delhi, Apr 30: The BJP on Wednesday accused the Congress-led UPA of "discriminating" against NDA-ruled states, particularly Madhya Pradesh, to create crises and make the governments unpopular ahead of Assembly elections. The party raked up the issue of "discrimination of NDA- ruled states" both inside and outside Parliament on a day when Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan observed a 24-hour fast to protest the Centre's "step-motherly" treatment. Senior leader Venkaiah Naidu alleged that the Central Government has slashed foodgrain, power and coal allocation to Madhya Pradesh and turned a blind eye towards the state's plea for assistance to tackle the drought situation.

He said 37 out of the 48 districts are drought affected, while 164 of the 272 taluks are worst-hit, but the Centre has not granted a "single penny" so far despite the central team which toured the state submitting its report. The state government has sought a Rs 1,548 crore relief package to tackle the drought situation, he said, adding the power allocation from the Central quota has also come down to 31 mg a month from 350 mg four years ago. While there are 62.50 lakh below poverty level (BPL) families in the state, the Centre allocates wheat for only 41.25 households and per family allocation of wheat has been slashed to 20 kg a month from 35 kg, he claimed.

"The Centre is trying to create a crisis in the state to make the Chauhan government unpopular to reap electoral gains. This blatant partisan behaviour goes against the basic tenets and spirit of the constitution," he said. NDA had been raising the issue of discrimination by the Centre in the run up to elections in several states ruled by it.