MP poll campaign: Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah trade barbs

It was a matter of coincidence that when the Election Commission of India declared the dates for the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana, thus bringing the model code of conduct into effect, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and BJP president Amit Shah were both campaigning in Madhya Pradesh.

The two party presidents are leaving no stones unturned as far as the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls are concerned. In the morning, Rahul Gandhi visited Morena in north Madhya Pradesh and later did a roadshow in Jabalpur in the south. Similarly, Amit Shah did a roadshow in Indore and Ratlam in west Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing a huge congregation of adivasis, who are marching towards Delhi under the banner of Ekta Parishad demanding implementation of the promises and agreement made by the Union government in 2012, Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP government is concerned about the well-being of businessmen and industrialists, while those who are supporting the adivasis are struggling for their rights.

He reiterated that when the Congress comes back to power, the loans of farmers will be waived off throughout the country.

In Jabalpur, Rahul Gandhi continued his flirting with soft Hindutva and started his roadshow after performing aarti of Narmada river. He was welcomed by huge crowds during the 7-km long roadshow.

Some 600km away from Jabalpur, in Indore, BJP president Shah did a roadshow and walked on the streets. He later addressed a rally where he attacked the Congress for dynastic politics. He asked people to remember the days of Digvijaya Singh regime when the state had poor roads and power supply.

While Shah's Indore visit did not evoke much public response, in Ujjain, in a workers meeting, the decision to not allow media was criticised by many.

Attacking Congress president Rahul Gandhi, he said that the Congress should clear its stand on the infiltrators coming into the northeast.