Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: In a surprising turn of events, the planned rally by the opposition INDIA alliance in Madhya Pradesh’s capital, Bhopal, scheduled for the first week of October, has been abruptly canceled, according to top Congress leader and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Discussions surrounding the rally’s fate are currently underway with the Congress President and other partners of the INDIA alliance. No final decision has been reached regarding the rescheduling of the event.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asserted that the INDIA alliance decided to cancel its inaugural rally due to public outrage over perceived insults to Sanatana Dharma, a major religious belief in India.
Chouhan stated, “This is a manifestation of public indignation. Sanatana Dharma was denigrated and likened to diseases like dengue and malaria. The people of Madhya Pradesh will not tolerate such disrespect towards their faith. The INDIA alliance must comprehend that they have deeply wounded our beliefs, and this will not be accepted under any circumstances. The people of Madhya Pradesh are irate, and the INDI bloc and Congress will not be forgiven. The public’s dissatisfaction is clearly directed towards the alliance’s leadership.”
He further took a swipe at the Congress, highlighting internal turmoil within the party and infighting over the inclusion of leaders’ photos in campaign posters.
Chouhan contrasted this with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where he claimed everyone actively participates in election campaigns.
Previously, the INDIA bloc had announced plans to convene their inaugural joint public meeting in Bhopal, focusing on the forthcoming Madhya Pradesh state elections, and had expressed intentions to initiate seat-sharing negotiations promptly.
The Coordination Committee of INDIA convened for its first meeting at the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in the national capital.
Kamal Nath and Mr. Surjewala held a press conference in Bhopal concerning their party’s statewide ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’ (Public Anger March), which is scheduled to precede the state assembly elections.
Seven Jan Akrosh Yatras, organized by the Congress, will commence on Ganesh Chaturthi, falling on September 19. These yatras will traverse 11,400 kilometers, covering all 230 assembly segments of Madhya Pradesh within a span of 15 days. Eminent Congress leaders, including Dr. Govind Singh, leader of the opposition (LoP) in the Madhya Pradesh assembly, and former union ministers Arun Yadav, Kantilal Bhuria, Suresh Pachouri, will lead these yatras.
When asked about the potential Chief Ministerial candidate if Congress secures power in the state, Congress national general secretary in-charge for MP, Randeep Surjewala, gestured towards Kamal Nath, who was seated beside him. However, Surjewala emphasized that the final decision regarding Kamal Nath’s electoral candidacy would be determined by the party’s top decision-making body, the CWC.
