Cong fields Priyanka against PM Modi in MP poll campaign
New Delhi: Congress, which preferred not to field Priyanka Vadra Gandhi from Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has come out with a new strategy to take on PM Modi during electioneering by pitching Priyanka against him.
The star campaigner of Congress — Priyanka Vadra Gandhi — has been pitched against PM Modi, the BJP's star campaigner, in BJP's stronghold Madhya Pradesh's Malwa-Nimar region. The region would go to polls in the last phase on May 19.
In a bid to take a lead during the campaigning for the last phase of the general elections by making it a straight 'fight' between Priyanka and Modi, the Congress has scheduled the public meetings of Priyanka in places where either Modi is addressing masses the same day or after a gap of 24 hours.
As per the party insiders, the move is aimed at giving an impression that besides Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the grand old party has other leaders too to engage directly with PM Modi in public discourse.
The war of words between Modi and Priyanka would start from Indore as PM Modi is scheduled to address a political rally on Sunday, while Priyanka, will make her maiden visit to Indore three days later to turn the situation in favour of Congress candidate Pankaj Sanghvi, who is pitted against BJP's fresh face Shankar Lalwani. PM Modi is also scheduled to address a political rally in Khandwa.
A day later, on Monday, both the leaders would be in Jhabua-Ratlam, the reserved Schedule Tribe seat that traditionally has been with the Congress. The BJP won this constituency only in 2014 and that when Congress rebel Dilip Singh Bhuria crossed over to defeat Kantilal Bhuria — a veteran Congressman. However, Congress MP Kantilal wrested the seat in a bypoll and now he is facing the challenge from BJP's GS Damor.
As per the campaign tour released by the Congress, Priyanka, after landing in Indore on Monday at 12.30 pm, would take a chopper to seek blessings of Mahakal — Lord Shiva in Ujjain and then proceed for the public meetings.
