Rahul Gandhi dubs Madhya Pradesh as country’s ‘corruption capital’, says Congress will sweep State polls

Rahul Gandhi claims MP is "corruption capital" of India; promises LPG cylinder at ₹500, MSP of ₹2,600 for wheat, free electricity up to 100 units if Congress comes to power. Accuses BJP of stealing Congress govt. and colluding with industrialists. Targets PM Modi for demonetisation and not speaking about OBCs. Promises caste census and welfare measures if Congress wins polls.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on November 13 claimed Madhya Pradesh was the country's "corruption capital" and accused the state BJP government of indulging in rampant "corruption".

Addressing a public meeting in MP's Neemuch district, he also promised a caste census if the Congress comes to power at the Centre and in States and expressed confidence that his party will sweep the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.

Mr. Gandhi promised his party government will provide LPG cylinder at ₹500, waive farmers' loans up to ₹2 lakh, will pay a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹2,600 for wheat which will go up to ₹3,000 and free electricity up to 100 units.

Polls to the 230-member MP assembly are scheduled on November 17. Elections in Rajasthan, Telangana and the second phase of polls in Chhattisgarh are also scheduled later this month. Elections in the north eastern state of Mizoram were held last week.

Mr. Gandhi told the gathering, "The Congress had formed government in MP (after the 2018 polls) and the moment it started working for farmers by waiving loans of 27 lakh cultivators, the BJP, in collusion with big industrialists, stole your government of farmers, labourers and small shop owners and came back to power." "This Madhya Pradesh is the capital of corruption in the country,” he claimed.

Mr. Gandhi also referred to a viral video purportedly showing the son of Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and a "middleman" talking about several crore rupees.

The Congress leader alleged that "in the video Tomar ji's son was seen sitting and stealing your money." "Here BJP MLAs and ministers are also not less. They are competing with Tomar in stealing money from farmers and labourers," he charged referring to lawmakers from MP.