BHOPAL: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's son Kartikey picked up the baton in his father's assembly constituency, Budhni, ahead of assembly elections in the state when he announced in a rally that it's not the chief minister but, the public who fight election battle from Budhni.

Kartikey also took everybody by surprise when he packed a punch to his father's claim that roads in Madhya Pradesh are '100 per cent better than United States'. Chief minister Chouhan had during his Washington visit in October 2017 had generated a major buzz by saying that roads in his Madhya Pradesh were far better than those he had seen in Washington.

"I challenge that roads in Madhya Pradesh are 100% better than America (USA). I have visited America and seen roads there. In Madhya Pradesh government has laid an extensive road network across the state and they are far better than US", he claimed while addressing public and BJP workers in Nasarullaganj, a part of Budhni assembly constituency in Sehore district, on Tuesday.

Kartikey, who is being judged as chief minister's successor in the home constituency, also hit out at the Congress for its threatening remarks that the old party is all set to catch the bull by horns and corner Shivraj Singh Chouhan in his own constituency during the forthcoming elections.

"I am now in an election mood and talking to voters in this constituency. It is not the chief minister who will contest from Budhni, but the public of the entire constituency. Budhni has always been handed over to the public and people serve the constituency in their own way. They contest the election on behalf of CM and decide the fate", Kartikey reacted sharply to the Congress threat.

He also launched a direct attack on the Congress leaders saying, "Congress is misguiding the public. Farmers never go for protest against the government. I challenge the Congress leaders that they would never succeed in their motives. The public is with the chief minister and will always remain with him", said the budding politician.

Kartikey represents the young generation in the saffron party who has been trying to make a connection with the young voters through the party's planned programmes. Being chief minister's son, he formally launched his political career in January this year when he addressed a public rally in Shivpuri district and some meetings during by-polls in Mungaoli and Kolaras assembly constituencies. He though, addressed public first time during chief minister's Narmada Sewa Yatra in May last year but, later took up political tours in his home district Sehore.

Ahead of assembly polls this year-end, Kartikey is again on move but in his father's constituency Budhni where he along with his mother Sadhna Singh, would launch an aggressive poll campaign from next month.

