Jyotiraditya Scindia has already sounded the bugle for the 2018 polls in Madhya Pradesh.
The battle for Madhya Pradesh is still far away but Congress lawmaker from Guna, Jyotiraditya Scindia has already sounded the bugle for the 2018 polls in the state. He is holding 'Jan Aakrosh' (public anger) rallies across the state with an aim to consolidate support for his party and to cash in on anti-incumbency against the BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
In the last fortnight, Mr Scindia has been touring various constituencies in the Bhind-Morena region considered among the most backward in the state.
Some in the Congress also see this as a bid by Mr Scindia to get the party high command to declare him a chief ministerial face for the 2018 polls.
"40 years ago it was more about the symbol and less about the individual. Today it's much more about the individual... people want to know the face they are voting for, whether it is a state election or even panchayat polls," Mr Scindia told NDTV.
"The Congress has to work together to ensure that we emerge victorious," he added.
So far his rallies have been getting impressive support.
On the last leg of his rallies in Bhind yesterday, the four lane highway between Gwalior and Bhind was chocked with cars and motorbikes with Congress flags and hundreds of supporters who had gathered to greet him.
At Bhind, Mr Scindia reminded the crowd of the work his family has done for the region.
"The main railway line was brought by my father as were electricity poles, and other facilities," said Mr Scindia adding, "The 13-year rule of this government has only been about making false promises."
At his previous rally he was shown black flags by some Congress workers, believed to be in response to his apparent bid for the chief minister's nomination.
Apart from Mr Scindia, Congress state party president Arun Yadav, former union minister Kamal Nath are considered as possible front runners for the state's top job.