'List Of BJP Scams Longer Than PM Modi's List On Insults': Priyanka Kick-Starts Cong Campaign In MP

Madhya Pradesh Election: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra began the party's campaign from Jabalpur by hitting out at the ruling BJP and PM Narendra Modi over promises made in the state.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed a gathering at Shaheed Samarak in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

Source : Twitter/@INCIndia

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday kicked off the Congress party's campaign and Sankalp 2023 for the year-end Madhya Pradesh Assembly election from Jabalpur after praying at the banks of the Narmada river. Citing alleged corruption in Vyapam and ration distribution, she commented that the list of BJP's "scams" was longer than the number of insults Prime Minister Narendra Modi recounted, in a reference to his remark in the recent Karnataka election campaign.

Addressing a gathering at Shaheed Samarak in Jabalpur, she said: "Announcements are made during elections and big promises are made, but after winning polls, they (BJP) don't try to fulfill the promises." She further remarked that the people of Madhya Pradesh are being "used" and "exploited" for past 18 years.

“In their (BJP) 220 months of rule (in Madhya Pradesh), they have done 225 scams which averages to about a scam a month,” Priyanka alleged.

BJP ने 220 महीनों के शासन में 225 घोटाले किए हैं।

व्यापम घोटाला, शिक्षक भर्ती घोटाला, पुलिस भर्ती घोटाला, खनन घोटाला, कोरोना घोटाला, बिजली विभाग का घोटाला, ई-टेंडर घोटाला, टीवी सेट वितरण घोटाला।

इन्होंने नर्मदा मैया और महाकाल कॉरिडोर को भी नहीं छोड़ा।

: @priyankagandhi जी… pic.twitter.com/edrNnHgGhi

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 12, 2023

"They talk about double engine and triple engine. They used to say the same in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka but public has shown them that they should stop talking about the double engine and start working," she remarked, mocking the BJP's double-engine government poll talk.

The Congress general secretary said that the BJP government had not even spared gods, referring to May 28 incident when winds damaged six idols in the Ujjain's Mahakal Lok corridor, the first phase of which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October last year.

The 900-metre corridor at the renowned Mahakaleshwar Temple is being built at a cost of Rs 856 crore and the first phase expenditure is Rs 351 crore.       

Taking a jibe at Congressman-turned-BJP leader and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Priyanka Gandhi, without taking his name, said some leaders in Madhya Pradesh had abandoned the party's ideology for the sake of power. 

Earlier in the day, she offered prayers at the banks of the Narmada river.

जय नर्मदा मैया pic.twitter.com/lQsNL4ziD6

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 12, 2023

Madhya Pradesh Election 2023: Congress Sounds Poll Bugle From Jabalpur

Jabalpur is at the centre of the state's Mahakoshal region, which has a sizable number of tribal voters.

In the 2018 Assembly polls, the Congress won 11 of the 13 Scheduled Tribe reserved seats in the eight-district division, with the remaining two bagged by the Bharatiya Janata Party.  

People in the Mahakoshal area or Jabalpur division having eight districts feel neglected by the BJP. We did well (last time) in the area. This time around we are going to sweep the polls, Jabalpur mayor and Congress' city chief Jagat Bahadur Singh told news agency PTI. 

Congress Rajya Sabha member from MP and senior Supreme Court lawyer Vivek Tankha told PTI that Jabalpur was picked for the party's campaign launch as Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra did not pass through this area.

The rally in Mahakoshal area will help the Congress in neighbouring Vindh and Bundelkhand regions. Moreover, there is strong anti-incumbency (against BJP government) in Mahakoshal and a large chunk of traditional tribal voters of Congress dwell in this region, he said.        

MP has six regions, namely Mahakoshal, Gwalior-Chambal, Central India, Nimar-Malwa, Vindh, and Bundelkhand. Mahakoshal or Jabalpur division comprises Jabalpur, Katni, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Balaghat, Mandla, Dindori, and Chhindwara districts and has 38 Assembly seats.

In the last Assembly polls, the Congress won 24 of these seats while the BJP managed to win 13. One seat was bagged by an Independent candidate.

With wins in Mahakoshal in 2018, the Congress was able to form a government in MP under Kamal Nath, though it fell in March 2020 after MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia walked out and joined the BJP.

Now the Congress faces a challenge to keep its seats intact in Mahakoshal in the coming elections.