'Rid India of Congress, fulfill Mahatma Gandhi's dream': Narendra Modi at Bhopal rally

Bhopal: Mahatma Gandhi wanted to end the Congress organisation and the BJP should help fulfill that dream, said Narendra Modi today to almost two lakh party workers.

The new twist to the recurrent theme in Mr Modi's  speeches of ensuring a "Congress-free country" came at Bhopal's Jambooree Park. The BJP's prime ministerial candidate was in election-bound Madhya Pradesh as part of a star-studded entourage to campaign for chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is seeking a third straight term.

Top party leaders, including LK Advani and president Rajnath Singh, crowded the massive stage and spoke one after the other. LK Advani first, Mr Modi last. (Who said what)

"People across India say there is a BJP wave," Mr Modi said, offering copious praise for host Shivraj Singh Chouhan's performance in Madhya Pradesh. "What the Congress could not do in 50 years, Shivraj Chouhan has done thrice as much in 10 years," he asserted.

He gave "my brother Shivraj Chouhan" credit for "inclusive growth," a term, he said, that "the Congress never mentioned... these days they don't stop talking about it... The Congress has adopted this because of the BJP and Shivraj Chouhan," he said.

The Madhya Pradesh CM has been seen as part of the anti-Modi group in the BJP led by Mr Advani, who has often pitted him against the Gujarat CM.

But since the Modi announcement earlier this month, Mr Chouhan has gone out of his way to demonstrate that he is on the same side as the party's presumptive PM. In his speech, he promised Mr Modi today that he will leave no stone unturned to ensure the defeat of a corrupt Congress.

The rally was a show of strength for Mr Chouhan. He pulled out all stops to ensure a grand show and massive crowds that prompted LK Advani to comment, "I don't think that there has ever been such a huge gathering of party workers ever in India or anywhere else. This is really like a Maha-Kumbh."

Mr Advani, who had opposed Mr Modi being named the party's presumptive PM earlier this month, looked away as Mr Modi touched his feet on stage. But when Mr Chouhan did the same, he offered blessings. (Read)