MP: Banking on Lord Hanuman's Mace, Priyanka Launches Congress's Poll Campaign

Bhopal: With an aim to repeat the Karnataka mandate in Madhya Pradesh, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday launched the party's election campaign with five promises and much religious fanfare in Jabalpur. 

Before the rally, Congress leaders, who had claimed that religion should not be used in politics in contrast to the Bharatiya Janata Party, performed Narmada Arti at Gwarighat. With the help of over 100 priests, Priyanka Gandhi was seen holding a string of rudrakshas in her hand when priests were chanting mantras and blowing conches for Narmada puja. 

Further, religiosity was on full display at the Congress rally in Jabalpur. The Congress had stated before that Bajrang Bali did not want his name to be politicised, which was said in reference to PM Narendra Modi's Karnataka poll rallies where he equated Bajrang Bali to Bajrang Dal. However, the Congress installed a 30-ft long mace – known as the weapon of Lord Hanuman – at the Shankaracharya Chowk. Maces were also put across the city and around crossings between Gwarighat and Gol Bazar, the rally's location. Several Congress workers were also seen roaming in Lord Hanuman's attire.

Addressing the 'Vijay Shankhnaad Rally' at Shahid Smarak, she reiterated five promises -- Rs 1,500 every month for women, LPG cylinders at Rs 500, restoration of the old pension scheme, 100 units of free power, and completion of farm loan waiver scheme -- made by the state congress. The party has vowed to fulfil these promises in the first cabinet.

Listing out the achievements of the short-lived Congress government in the state, she said that the 15-month Kamal Nath government waived agriculture loans of 27 lakh farmers amounting to Rs 11,600 crore. "Social security pension was increased from Rs 300 to Rs 600, and one crore families benefited from 100 units of power for Rs 100. One thousand cow shelters were constructed, and 12,000 utensil banks were created for tribal societies," she said.

Emphasising on delivery of promises made by the Congress, she said Congress governments are fulfilling promises in the country. "We have just formed the government in Karnataka, where we gave five guarantees. All five guarantees were passed in the first cabinet meeting," Priyanka said, adding that in Rajasthan, the Old Pension Scheme has been restored, and LPG is given at Rs 500. "In Chhattisgarh, farmers are getting the highest price for paddy in India. There, too, the Old Pension Scheme has been restored," she said.

Asking the voters not to get carried away by "those who whip up passions during polls", she alleged that the BJP wins elections not by addressing people's problems but by provoking emotions. "Ask them what they have done to reduce unemployment and inflation in the last two decades," she said at the rally. 

On the other hand, countering the Congress over the religious display, Home Minister Narottam Mishra said, "They turned Hindus just before the polls. This has nothing to do with faith."

Why Jabalpur?

Unlike the previous election, where Rahul Gandhi launched the poll campaign from Mandsaur on June 6, 2018, by announcing a farm loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lakh and justice to the families of six slain farmers who died during the protest in 2017, this time, the Congress chose Priyanka and decided to launch the campaign from Jabalpur.

Jabalpur is at the centre of theMahakoshal region, which has a sizable number of tribal voters. It is the biggest city in the Mahakaushal region. The Congress got a whopping 24 seats out of 38 (including 13 tribal seats) in the 2018 Assembly polls. Out of 13 reserved tribal seats, the Congress won 11 while the BJP bagged just two.

"Mahakaushal region blessed us in 2018 with 24 seats. It's important to respect their mandate. In addition to that, Priyanka has a soft touch and she can easily connect with women voters," a Congress leader told NewsClick.

Just two days before Priyanka's rally, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a massive rally in Jabalpur to felicitate women on the release of the first instalment of the much-hyped Ladli Behna Yojana. The government is said to have transferred Rs 1,000 to the bank accounts of 1.25 crore women.

Out of the about 5.39 crore voters in the state, 2.60 (48.20%) crore are women. Among the 13,39 lakh newly-added voters this year, more than 7 lakh are women. The number of new women voters has gone up by 2.79%, while it is 2.30% for male voters, according to officials. 

In as many as 18 assembly seats out of 230 (all tribal reserved seats), including Dindori, Bichiya, Niwas, Mandla, Baihar, Paraswada, Balaghat, Waraseoni, Barghat, Pansemal, Alirajpur, Jobat, Jhabua, Thandla, Petlawad, Sardarpur, Kukshi and Sailana, women voters outnumber their male counterparts.

At Monday's rally, Priyanka launched the Nari Samman Yojana, which offers Rs 1,500 a month to a woman, against the BJP government's Rs 1000 under Ladli Behna Yojana. She rapped the BJP government, saying, "The Goshnaveer chief minister, who made over 22,000 announcements in his tenure and may fulfil only 1%, did nothing for women empowerment in the last 18 years of rule. His love for women voters is kicking in when elections are knocking on the door."

Congress leaders pointed out that Priyanka Gandhi's programme was scheduled in April while the BJP government purposely selected Jabalpur to launch its flagship scheme Ladli Bahna Yojana to overshadow the Congress.

Jibe on Jobs and Corruption

In a scathing attack on the ruling BJP and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over corruption and unemployment, Priyanka Gandhi criticized the 220-month-long rule, stating that there have been 225 scams - one every month. "Scam after scams are happening," she exclaimed, listing out a few scams that took place during the 18-year BJP regime. "Vyapam scam, Covid, e-tender, ration, scholarships, jobs, and others. How many more scams would be enough?" Priyanka asked.

Continuing her speech, she accused the BJP government of not sparing even Mahakal Lok (in Ujjain) and the Narmada river, alleging large-scale sand mining activities. She shared that a priest of Mahakal temple had sent her videos showing how idols in Mahakal Lok were damaged in a storm. "Where will they stop this corruption?" she questioned.

"They are looting the public, and before every election, they flame up your emotions and seek votes. How long will it continue?" she inquired. Priyanka further tore apart the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, alleging that its "list of scams is longer than Prime Minister Narendra Modi's list on insults."

Addressing the rally participants, she challenged, "Those who got jobs in the BJP regime, raise your hand." When no one raised their hand, she stated, "The BJP government gave only 21 jobs in the last three years. CM made 22,000 announcements; if he gave 22,000 jobs, it would be meaningful. But maybe, 1% of his announcements have been fulfilled. This is the truth before you. To run a country or a state, you need a vision and desire to build. The Congress builds with a vision like Jawaharlal Nehru founded institutions like the IIT, Indira Gandhi brought the Green Revolution, Rajiv Gandhi worked for a modern India, Dr. Manmohan Singh took the country forward," she explained.

Towards the end of the rally, she raised the issue of atrocities against tribals and Dalits, saying, "The cases of atrocities against marginalized communities are on the rise. Inflation, unemployment, atrocities, and internal clashes are rising. The data that one perceives every day is different from what is projected by the government. And you are being told that this is a golden era when you cannot purchase gas cylinders and your children cannot get jobs."

Taking a dig at the Congress rally, senior journalist and political commentator Arun Dixit pointed out, "The way Congress showcased the religious zeal in Jabalpur rally proves that the Congress is again trying to counter the BJP on religion. If you start copying the BJP, why would people vote for you? People want change, not a copycat of the current regime."  

He added, "The Congress is trying to replicate the Karnataka model in Madhya Pradesh. But it seems unlikely as Madhya Pradesh lacks leaders like DK Shivkumar and Siddaramaiah who speak fearlessly against communalism, corruption, and give space to minorities. Congress won in Karnataka because they took a firm stand on many issues including banning the Bajrang Dal."