Rahul Gandhi holds massive road show in Bhopal

Bhopal: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday held a massive road show here ahead of the November 17 assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh.

The nearly two-km-long road show kicked off at the Imam Gate falling under Bhopal North assembly constituency and ended at Kali temple, coming under Bhopal Central assembly seat.

Congress has fielded Atif Wakil and Arif Masood in Bhopal North and Bhopal Central assembly constituencies respectively.

While Mr Wakil is making debut in electoral politics in this poll after his father Arif, a five-time MLA, made way for him in his seat, Mr Masood, a three-time MLA, is seeking re-election from his seat.

The roadshow passed through the lanes and allies of the old city amid the greetings to him by the surging crowds all the way.

"The overwhelming response by the people to Mr Gandhi’s roadshow indicates that Madhya Pradesh is going for a change in the November 17 assembly elections", AICC general secretary in-charge of election affairs of Madhya Pradesh Randeep Surjewala said.

The roadshow passed through the key locations in the city such as Imam Gate, Jai Peer Gate and Moti Masjid before closing at Kali temple in the old Bhopal.

Later, addressing a roadside meeting, Mr Gadhi



called Madhya Pradesh as ‘Corruption Capital of India’ and accused Shivraj Singh Chouhan government of taking a 50 percent commission for government works.

The Congress leader referred to a purported video in which Devendra, son of Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar, was heard talking about making deals worth crores of rupees, and said why no probe by CBI, ED and other investing agencies is being done into it.

He also accused the Centre of overlooking the alleged corruption in the construction of Mahakal corridor in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and recruitment tests for the posts of revenue inspector in the state.

He targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi wondering why he has chosen to maintain silence on the caste census issue.

Mr Gandhi accused BJP of forming a government in Madhya Pradesh by stealing the mandate given by the people to Congress in 2018 and predicted a massive victory for Congress in the state in the upcoming polls.

He said that Congress, if voted to power in Madhya Pradesh, would waive farm loans and provide a financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to women.

Mr Gandhi addressed election rallies in Neemuch and Jabad in Madhya Pradesh earlier in the day.