Congress president Rahul Gandhi will launch his Madhya Pradesh assembly campaign with a state-wide bus yatra a... Read More

(This story originally appeared in on Jul 31, 2018)

NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi will launch his Madhya Pradesh assembly campaign with a state-wide bus yatra and visit to the Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga Shrine on the banks of Narmada river in early September, it is learned.

The party plans to announce the election manifesto by August end and could declare its candidates by mid-September, sources said.

The leadership will also immediately start an exercise of identifying constituencies where the party can explore an alliance with BSP. The manifesto, campaign and yatras will make conscious efforts to highlight the issues of farmers, unemployed youth, women, and minorities along with the “failures of the BJP regime”.

This was the main outcome of the discussions held by Rahul Gandhi with PCC chief Kamal Nath, senior leaders Digvijaya Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ajay Singh, Suresh Pachauri, Arun Yadav, Vivek Thanka, I Patel and Rajamani Pateld in Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting took place in the backdrop of AICC general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Deepak Babaria getting beaten up by some party workers at Rewa region, the stronghold of senior leader Ajay Singh. Babaria had said either Kamal Nath or Jyotiraditya Scindia may become the chief minister if Congress forms the government even though the high command has chosen not to project anybody as its CM candidate.

Given an AICC general secretary had got roughed up, in the meeting with Rahul Gandhi, it was said that those who indulge in indiscipline should be denied party tickets and face actions. Sources said Kamal Nath has asked the Rewa district Congress committee to submit a report.

However, there is a widespread feeling in Congress circles that Babaria’s conduct and the rough treatment he met with also advertise his lack of tact and stature in acting as a seasoned political pointsman in a complicated state Congress unit.

