Countdown for Congress' exit in Chhattisgarh begins, says Modi

Raipur: Breathing fire on Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the countdown for its government in Chhattisgarh has begun.

Addressing an election rally at Mungeli in Chhattisgarh, Mr Modi said that the first phase of polling has clearly indicated the exit of the grand old party from power in the state.

“The fate of Congress in Chhattisgarh has been decided in the first phase of polling in the state. The countdown for Congress has begun. Congress is down in the first phase of polling, and the second phase will make its exit (from power) certain. Chhattisgarh will be free of Congress in this poll,” he said.

Mr Modi raised the issue of the alleged scam relating to the online betting Mahadev app. He said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently probing the link of a senior Congress leader to the scandal.

“The ED probe indicates that the Mahadev app scam is worth over Rs 508 crore. The probe agencies have recovered loads of cash during the investigation. I want Congress to reveal what the share of the booty from the scandal is between the chief minister and the ‘Delhi Darbar’ (meaning Congress leadership),” he said.

He said, "Time has come to bid farewell to those Congress leaders who looted you for five years. People of the state are eager for 'bidai' (farewell) of Congress. The public no longer wants Congress."

He claimed that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is facing a formidable challenge in his Assembly constituency in the elections.

Referring to the purported pact of the rotation of the chief minister's post between Mr Baghel and his deputy T.S. Singh Deo, which did not materialise, he said, "If Congress can cheat one of its senior leaders, then it can also fool the people by making false promises."

The PM said that Congress scorned him so much that they did not even spare his caste. Congress hated Dr B.R. Ambedkar, ensuring a premature end to his political career.

The PM said that Congress can go to any extent to pursue its appeasement policy.

Mr Modi later addressed an election meeting in the eastern Chhattisgarh town of Mahasamund.

In his speech, he said that Congress has failed to fulfil its 50-year-old promise by not being able to eradicate poverty in the country. Congress had given the slogan, "Garibi Hatao" (remove poverty) decades ago, but poverty has still remained a major challenge for the country.

Congress wanted people to remain poor so that it could loot them.

Around 13.6 crore people have moved out of poverty in the last five years in the country because of the policies of the Centre.

The first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh was held on November 7, and the second and final phase of polling would be held on November 17.

Addressing an election rally in tribal-dominated Barwani in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Mr Modi said that the manifesto released by the BJP for the state would take MP to new heights of development.

"The meticulously crafted manifesto charts a transformative course for Madhya Pradesh, focusing on self-reliance, youth and women empowerment, and holistic development for all communities," he said.

He added that the BJP’s track record has demonstrated its commitment to fulfilling its promises and added that, "Rest assured that every promise made to you will be fulfilled, this is Modi's guarantee."

Reassuring people that all promises made to them by the BJP would be fulfilled, PM Modi at a rally in Barwani, Madhya Pradesh said that the Centre’s free ration scheme, which covers 80 crore people, will continue for five more years.

Citing the current Congress regime in Rajasthan, he said that people have started identifying the grand old party with rising crime rates, riots, and atrocities against women.

"What happened in Rajasthan during the five-year rule of Congress? We never imagined that we would hear the slogan, "siir tan se juda", (beheading) in India. But, it happened due to the misrule of Congress in Rajasthan," he said.

He added, "We have to save Madhya Pradesh from Congress."

Mr Modi is scheduled to stage road shows in Betul, Shajapur, Jhabua, and Indore on Tuesday.