PM Modi is addressing a rally in Rajasthan's Ajmer.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his campaigning for poll-bound states with a rally in Rajasthan's Ajmer. In his speech, the prime minister accused the Congress of playing vote bank politics. "On one side there is the politics of vote-bank, and on the other side, you have a government which works with the belief of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. While others believe in breaking society, dividing society, we believe in uniting society and working with all, for the benefit of all", he said.
With the Election Commission expected to announce the dates for Assembly Elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh among other dates, political parties are sending their star campaigners to these states to better their chances in the upcoming elections.
Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi's political rival, is in Madhya Pradesh to address a gathering of Congress supporters there.
BJP chief Amit Shah will also head to Madhya Pradesh, where he is expected to make multiple visits over the next few days to meet party workers, respective spokespersons of the two parties said. The Congress chief will arrive in Morena via Gwalior to take part in Ekta Parishad conclave, a party spokesperson said. He will proceed to Jabalpur on the same day where he will perform' Narmada Puja' at Gwari Ghat and later hold a roadshow.
Amit Shah will visit Indore today where he will meet party workers from Indore and Ujjain regions, a BJP spokesperson said. He will visit Gwalior on October 9 to meet party workers.
Here are the LIVE updates on the story:
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi held a road show in Jabalpur today
Congress President Rahul Gandhi offered his tributes to river Narmada in Gwari ghat in Jabalpur. Rahul Gandhi also held a road show today in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh town.
Mentioning the recent feat for women's rights in the country, PM Modi said that the BJP-led government believes in equality for all. From increasing maternity leave with full pay to 26 weeks, severe punishment to rapists and the ordinance on Triple Talaq, PM Modi said his government has taken "concrete steps" for the safety of women. "When people keep hearing that such a horrific action (rape) will result in death, they would not dare do something like this," PM Modi said in Ajmer.
BJP national president Amit Shah with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state unit chief Rakesh Singh in Indore today, offering his tributes to Ahilyabai Holkar. In Indore, Amit Shah will formally launch the BJP's mass contact campaign in the crurcial Malwa-Nimad region of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh to woo voters especially traders, tribals and farmers.
PM Modi accused the Congress of telling lies and creating fear. He said that the Congress is afraid of debating achievements on the work front but simply resorted to "telling lies". "We tell them, let us debate on the work done by you and compare it to the work done by us. But they run away from any such discussion. All they are interested in is in telling lies, creating doubt and fear," he said addressing a public rally in Ajmer.
Watch PM Modi's speech live from Ajmer here:
Meanwhile, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in his address at a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena attacked the BJP government over fugitive Vijay Mallya's alleged meeting with Union Minister Arun Jaitley before he fled the country. "Vijay Mallya stole Rs 9,000 crore. Before fleeing, he met the finance minister (FM) in Parliament and said he's going to London. The FM didn't alert police, ED or CBI. Farmers fight for their rights and you put them in jails," Rahul Gandhi said.
PM Modi told his audience at a rally in Ajmer that voters must be wary of parties that create fear and doubt. "They make you feel frustrated with life and by doing so they sit comfortably playing on your doubts and fears. Beware of such people and parties," the prime minister said.
In an apparent jibe at Opposition Congress, PM Modi said that the BJP works for the benefit and development of all. "On one side there is the politics of vote-bank, and on the other side, you have a government which works with the belief of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," he said. "While others believe in breaking society, dividing society, we believe in uniting society and working with all, for the benefit of all," PM Modi added.
Ahead of the polls in Rajasthan, PM Modi said that the ruling BJP government in the state believes in accountability. "We are nearing the end of our term in Rajasthan and we are here to give you a report of all that we have done," PM Modi said. "It is a matter of honour to be here in your service and to fearlessly give you an account of everything we've done for your benefit," the prime minister said addressing a rally in Ajmer.
In poll-bound Rajasthan, PM Modi today called himself a "karyakarta" while addressing the rally in Ajmer. He said, "A colleague was telling me that I must make time for Rajasthan, but I want to make one thing clear-- that I am still the same Narendra Modi who was a karyakarta who went from booth to booth on a scooter." The prime minister in the rally talked about his "roots" and said, "I might have become the prime minister, but I have not forgotten my roots, my beginning... I will be there wherever I am required to be; I will be like every other karyakarta."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a public rally in Ajmer. "I see a sea of people here... It seems as though you have written the fate of Rajasthan...," he said in the poll-bound state.
Rahul Gandhi arrives in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, to address a public rally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived to address the Vijay Sankalp Sabha at Ajmer in poll-bound Rajasthan.
Tribals and farmers have gathered in large numbers at Morena stadium ground in Madhya Pradesh for Adivasi Ekta Parishad meeting which will be addressed by Congress President Rahul Gandhi later today. The tribals are demanding land, home under 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana' and implementation of Forest Rights Act.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is in Madhya Pradesh for a day-long visit to the poll-bound state. Here, posters can be seen in Jabalpur where Rahul Gandhi will perform a Narmada Puja at Gwari Ghat today. He will also address a public gathering in Jabalpur. This is Rahul Gandhi's third visit to Madhya Pradesh in less than 20 days.
With an eye on assembly polls due later this year, BJP president Amit Shah in Indore will formally launch the party's mass contact campaign in the crurcial Malwa-Nimad region of Madhya Pradesh to woo voters especially traders, tribals and farmers. Amit Shah will launch the 'Maha Jansampark Abhiyan' from historic Rajwada area and walk for nearly 15 minutes up to Krishnapura Chhatri area to appeal people in the dense commercial area to vote for the BJP.
The Congress had won the Ajmer Lok Sabha seat by defeating BJP's Ramswaroop Lamba who is the son of former Ajmer MP Sanwar Lal Jat in the bypolls held earlier in 2018. The seat went to bypoll after the then sitting MP Sanwar Lal Jat died due to cardiac arrest last year.
Poll-bound Rajasthan's Ajmer district has eight assembly constituencies and seven of them are represented by BJP MLAs while the Congress has one seat of Nasirabad. The BJP, which had lost the Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency to Congress in bypolls held earlier this year, is trying to build a favourable atmosphere and mood among the voters by holding the rally of PM Modi, who had addressed an election rally in Ajmer in 2013 also.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Ajmer in Rajasthan today, marking the conclusion of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's state-wide 'Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra' which she had begun from Rajsamand's Charbhujanath temple.