With elections to Chhattisgarh over, the political parties have shifted their whole focus — lock, stock and barrel — to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where 230 and 200 seats respectively are up for stake.
Both BJP and Congress are keenly poised for a straight battle in these two states and are trying to wrap up the last leg through an effective electoral campaign. Their immediate focus is Madhya Pradesh that is going to polls on Nov 28.
While the BJP has already launched a campaign blitz across Madhya Pradesh through several of its top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Adityanath, Nitin Gadkari, Uma Bharti etc., Congress is depending on its president Rahul Gandhi and local stalwarts.
On Wednesday alone, BJP completed a streak of 20 public rallies in Madhya Pradesh, the maximum, eight rallies, being done by UP Chief Minister Adityanath mainly to puncture Congress’ new-found love for Lord Ram and Hindu symbols like the cow.
At the same time, the BJP is using experienced politician like Nitin Gadkari, who is known for his capabilities to deliver mammoth projects in time, and Rajnath Singh to counter the anti-incumbency fatigue of BJP governments in both the states.
The BJP leaders are also batting for Modi government by claiming how demonetization, GST, Ujjawala are changing the face of India. Addressing a news conference in Bhopal on Wednesday, Rajnath Singh said, the NDA government is overpowering the crisis of credibility at the Centre which was created by the previous UPA government.
The Congress, on the other hand, is depending on a cocktail of Hindutva symbols, local anti-incumbency factors and attack on Modi government on issues of corruption, unemployment and agrarian crisis to woo the voters.
While reminding about his Janeudhari image to the voters by visiting temples, Gandhi is also aiming at 2019 elections by mixing his attack on local issues while taking on PM Modi on various national issues in his public rallies.
The Congress is also trying to use the services of octogenarian former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who carries the image of an honest, learned technocrat to woo the educated urban voters. Incidentally, despite incessant frontal attacks on Rahul Gandhi’s personality, the Congress has kept faith in its president who apparently has improved and is able to establish connect with spectators in rallies.
As throne of Delhi in 2019 will depend mainly on the arithmetic of central Indian states where the bulk of 543 seats come from, campaigning in Mizoram has remained a low key affair so far. The state has seen a lukewarm response from top leaders of national parties with Rahul Gandhi and Amit Shah visiting it once.
RAJ POLITICAL HOTSPOT FOR BJP BIGGIES
- Though BJP has a long list of popular speakers, there is a special demand for UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
- Stress on Hindutva plank makes Yogi a main face on campaign front.
- “The case of Congress is different. Only Rahul holds a national stature,” says a senior BJP leader.
- Congress’ list of 40 star campaigners includes Sonia, Manmohan & Amarinder Singh.
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