Madhya Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi to begin Malwa tour tomorrow after worshipping Mahakal in Ujjain

BHOPAL: Congress President Rahul Gandhi will embark on his two-day tour to the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Monday. He will perform prayers at the famous Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain before visiting the BJP-dominated Malwa-Nimar region for campaigning. The BJP has time and again accused the Congress chief of playing the 'soft-Hindutva' card during elections and ridiculed his temple visits as 'temple run'. Gandhi will address rallies in Jhabua, Indore, Dhar, Khargone and Mhow and also take part in a road show in Indore during his visit. "During his visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple (one of the 12 'jyotirlingas' of Lord Shiva), Rahul will worship the Lord Mahakal like a common devotee," Congress secretary Sanjay Kapoor told PTI. After visiting the Mahakal temple, Gandhi will address public meetings at Ujjain and Jhabua, respectively. He is also scheduled to participate in a road show to be organised by the Congress in Indore on Monday evening, and will address a public meeting at Rajwada. On Tuesday, Gandhi will interact with news editors and the business community in two separate programmes at Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh. He will later address public meetings at Dhar and Khargone. On Tuesday evening, the Congress chief would address a public meeting at Mhow after offering tribute at the memorial of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar's birthplace. Mhow, about 23 kms from Indore, is the birthplace of Ambedkar. BJP national vice-president Prabhat Jha said, "Congress has been making false allegations against BJP about playing religion-based politics. Now, Rahul should answer why he is running to temples ahead of elections? "The Congress president should also clarify why he and his mother Sonia Gandhi did not visit the Mahakal temple during previous visits," he said. Gandhi in August went to Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, after which he has been portrayed as 'Shiv Bhakt' by the Congress. Barely months ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the entire spectacle is being seen as Congress' efforts to woo Hindu voters. Voting to elect new Assembly in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 28 and counting will take place on December 11.