Madhya Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi's 'temple run' to continue ahead of assembly polls

Amid the BJP's charge that he is playing the "soft Hindutva card" by visiting temples in poll-bound states, the Congress chief will perform a 'puja' at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain on October 29 before his campaign in the BJP-dominated Malwa-Nimar region.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Photo: PTI

INDORE: With just over a month ahead of assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, the political temperature in the state started shooting up with stalwarts from both the parties ruling BJP and opposition Congress have started intensive campaigning to woo the voters. Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be in the state on a two-day tour from October 29. Amid the BJP's charge that he is playing the "soft Hindutva card" by visiting temples in poll-bound states, the Congress chief will perform a 'puja' at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain on October 29 before his campaign in the BJP-dominated Malwa-Nimar region. Gandhi will begin his two-day tour of the Malwa-Nimar region after worshipping the famous Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva in Ujjain on October 29, PTI quoted a party leader as saying. "Rahul Gandhi will begin his visit to the Malwa-Nimar region after offering prayers at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain. He would address a public meeting in Ujjain after worshipping (the Jyotirlinga)," said Madhya Pradesh Congress Secretary Sanjay Kapoor. The Congress chief would also hold a road show in Indore the same day. "On October 30, Gandhi will visit B R Ambedkar's birthplace Mhow, about 23 kms from Indore, and pay his tribute at the memorial of the Dalit icon. Gandhi would address a public meeting there," he said. Malwa-Nimar region is spread across Indore and Ujjain divisions of western Madhya Pradesh. The BJP has time and again accused the Congress chief of playing the 'soft-Hindutva' card during elections and rediculed his temple visits as 'temple run'. The Congress has started projecting Rahul Gandhi as "Shiv Bhakt" after a controversy that erupted over his visit to the Somnath temple in Gujarat last year when his name appeared in the register meant for "non-Hindus". Hitting back at the BJP, Gandhi had then said he and his family is "Shiv Bhakt" and they don't need any certificate over it. Gandhi in August went to Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, after which he has been portrayed as 'Shiv Bhakt' by the Congress. Barely months ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the entire spectacle is being seen as Congress' efforts to woo Hindu voters. Recently, when Gandhi went to Amethi, his parliamentary constituency, hundreds of Congress supporters dressed as 'Kanwars' or devotees of Lord Shiva chanted "bol bam" to receive him. He was also greeted with posters hailing 'Shiv Bhakt Rahul Gandhi'.