Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a political rally in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, making a fervent appeal to the electorate in the poll-bound state to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Shah emphasised that supporting the BJP is crucial for strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his quest to elevate India to a prominent global position.


During the rally, held in the state, Amit Shah told the gathering that Madhya Pradesh had experienced a decline when the Congress was in power, characterising it as a "BIMARU" (laggard) state. In contrast, he credited the BJP's governance with ushering in development across various sectors, asserting that this had positively impacted the state, news agency PTI reported.


"I appeal to you to vote for the lotus symbol for strengthening the hands of PM Modi for the security and welfare of people and to make the country number one in the world," Shah said.


The Union Home Minister highlighted the significant moment when the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya was laid, asserting that this step had been pending for decades. He remarked that “On January 22, (idol of) Lord Ram Lalla will be consecrated in the huge temple”, as quoted by PTI


"The Congress party hindered the building of the Ram temple for years. When I was the BJP president, Rahul Baba used to mock us with the slogan 'Mandir wahin banayenge par tithi nahi batayenge’. Now, we have built the temple and also have given the date, that is 22 January,” he said, as per PTI.


In his address, Shah recalled the deplorable state of roads in Madhya Pradesh during Congress rule, particularly during the journey from Gujarat. He described the bumpy and potholed roads as a telltale sign of crossing into Madhya Pradesh. However, Shah maintained that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the state had seen a significant transformation, with a substantial increase in the budget, from “Rs. 23,000 crore to Rs. 3.15 lakh crore.”


The Union Home Minister took the opportunity to praise Prime Minister Modi's initiatives and policies, pointing out the numerous accomplishments achieved in the past nine years. He mentioned the abrogation of Article 370, integration of Jammu and Kashmir, economic progress, and strengthening of India's defense. Shah also criticised the Congress for its consistent opposition to the BJP's policy decisions.


Concluding his speech, Amit Shah urged the people of Madhya Pradesh to exercise their voting rights wisely, as their choices would not only decide the state's future but also impact the entire country.


Shah is on a three-day visit to the state which is scheduled to undergo polls in a single phase for its 230-member legislative assembly on November 17. The votes will be counted on December 3 along with Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Misoram, and Telangana. 


Ahead of his Ujjain visit, the BJP leader garlanded the statue of Raja Bhoj in capital Bhopal after which he headed to Khajuraho where he took part in a meeting of Sagar division of the party. 


He then addressed the party workers of Rewa and Shahdol division in Rewa. 


Arriving in Ujjain, Shah offered prayers at Mahakaleshwar Temple before addressing the public meeting.  


His three-day visit to the central state kicked off on Saturday by paying homage at the statues of legendary Gondwana tribal rulers Shankar Shah and his son Raghunath Shah at their memorial near Rani Durgavati Hospital in Jabalpur.


Later, he chaired a division-level party meeting of the BJP.