Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that though democracy was the most ideal form of government, there was a need to simplify its procedures to make it really meaningful for the common people in the true sense.

At a two-day symposium on 'Emerging Challenges in Indian Democracy' organised by Pandit Kunjilal National Seat of Parliamentary Learning here yesterday, Chouhan said that there is a need for taking radical decisions to ensure justice to deprived sections and to effect poll reforms.

Chouhan said that there should be no special concern for privileged people, an official release said today.

"If we were to look at the lifestyle of political leaders, we find that they are living in an ivory tower. Is democracy a medium to serve the interests of a selected few privileged people?" he asked.

The commoners must be the first and foremost concern of the government in democracy, the Chief Minister said. Stating that Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya championed the cause of the common people and gave topmost priority to improve their lot, Chouhan said that in consonance with this philosophy, the Madhya Pradesh government has taken effective measures to put the poor and the weak on a better footing.

He also referred to some schemes like Mukhya Mantri Kanyadan Yojana, welfare of the labourers and handcartpullers and rickshaw pullers introduced in the state.