Congress sounds poll bugle in Madhya Pradesh, targets BJP over corruption

Priyanka promised the people of MP that Congress has some ‘guarantees’ for them which they would "implement 100% like the Congress did in Karnataka

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday launched the Congress's campaign for Madhya Pradesh assembly elections in Mahakoshal region with a puja along the banks of the Narmada and a rally where she tore into the BJP government, alleging that the state is witnessing a 'ghotala raj' (rule by scams) led by a 'ghoshana veer' (one who makes lot of announcements).

The party chose Jabalpur to unveil its campaign, which is a mixture of corruption allegations against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government and "pro-people" guarantees, as it is at the centre of Mahakoshal region where Congress won 24 of the 38 seats in last elections. The large 'adivasi' population in the region was also considered by the party managers when they decided to choose Jabalpur.

Priyanka initiated the campaign with a 'puja' along the banks of the Narmada at Gwarighat ahead of the public rally, which saw the attendance of the who-is-who of Madhya Pradesh Congress, including state chief Kamal Nath.

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“This is the beginning of our campaign. I feel lucky that it began on the banks of Ma Narmada. We will not tell lies before you. Our only truth is that we are dedicated to you, we are dedicated to the country and we will work for you with full sincerity and love,” she said.

In her address at the rally, Priyanka sought to paint Chouhan's tenure as one of scams, false promises, and announcements, besides projecting the failures of the Chouhan government in creating jobs and bringing inflation under control.

She promised that Congress has some ‘guarantees’ for the people of the state, which they would "implement 100 per cent like the Congress did in Karnataka. “Every month, women will get Rs 1500 every month, a gas cylinder will cost only Rs 500, 100 unit electricity will be free for all. Electricity bill till 200 units will be halved. We will implement OPS for government employees in MP also. We will complete the job of waiving off farmers’ debt. The debt of remaining farmers will also be waived off,” she said.

In an apparent reference to Chouhan's programme in Jabalpur where he transferred Rs 1,000 to 1.2 crore women in the state, she said it has become a ritual to make announcements at the time of elections, but those who make promises themselves do not have belief in them. "BJP wins elections by making big promises but makes no effort to fulfil them," she alleged.

Listing the alleged scams under BJP rule in the state, she said that there have been the Vyapam scam, Teacher Recruitment scam, Police Recruitment scam, Mining scam, Corona scam, Electricity Department scam, E-tender scam, and a TV set distribution scam in MP. The list of corruption and scams in the state is much longer than the list mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about abuses against him, said Priyanka.

“The BJP government has not even spared Narmada Ma. Mining is being done in the holy river. It has not even spared Gods. They have not even spared the Mahakal corridor. A priest sent me a video of how buildings are collapsing. Someone has eaten money. In 220 months of BJP rule, there have been 225 scams. A scam is there almost every month...This is 'ghotala raj' by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. If you do not stop this, have you ever thought what impact this will have on your future,” she said.

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She also accused Chouhan of being a 'ghoshana veer' and alleged that in the 18 years he was in power, he made 22,000 announcements. “If he had given 22,000 jobs, there would have been some benefit. But he didn’t do anything. Perhaps only 1 per cent of all the promises got fulfilled. The reality is before you,” she said.

Priyanka also found fault with the double-engine narrative of BJP saying people of Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka have given it a befitting reply. “There is too much Inflation in MP. Women find it difficult to purchase even food items and vegetables. Price rise has hit everyone. Diesel, fertiliser, everything has become costly for farmers. And there is very high unemployment as well in the state,” she said.