Team News Riveting
Bhopal, June 11
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will kick off the Congress’ election campaign for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections from Jabalpur on Monday.
The state, along with Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan would go to the polls in November this year. According to Congress sources, Priyanka would launch the party’s campaign after praying at the banks of the Narmada River.
The party’s campaign has been named Sankalp 2023. Priyanka will land in Jabalpur at around 10.30 am and head to Gwarighat to offer prayer to the Narmada River.
According to political analysts, the programme of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had made two points clear for the ensuing Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. First, it would be Priyanka who would have a considerable say in the party affairs for the Madhya Pradesh election. Second, Congress is focussing on retaining the stake it had held in the last elections.
Jabalpur headquartered Mahakoshal is one of the six regions in Madhya Pradesh. It comprises Jabalpur, Katni, Seoni, Narsinghpur, Balaghat, Mandla, Dindori, and Chhindwara districts. Of the 38 Assembly seats in the region, Congress won 24 of these seats while the BJP managed to win 13. One seat went to an Independent candidate.
“Retaining 24 seats in Mahakoshal is a big challenge for the Congress and hence the party decided to focus in the region and start the election campaign from Jabalpur,” the analyst said. Mahakoshal holds the key to power in Bhopal, he added.
The last MP Assembly election, Congress emerged as the largest party with 114 seats in the 230-member House and formed the government led by Kamal Nath. The BJP won 109 seats. However, a revolt in the party led by Jyotiraditya Scindia split Congress and the BJP came to power in March 2020.