MP Assembly Elections 2018 Low Points: List of Most Controversial Speeches & Remarks in Campaign Trail
The exchange of jibes turned increasingly bitter between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress, with both the sides touching a new low while launching personal attacks against each other.
Bhopal, November 26: Campaign for the high-stake electoral battle in Madhya Pradesh, featuring contests on 200 constituencies of the legislative assembly, ends today at 5pm. The Election Commission will ensure no political party or aspirants reach out directly to the voters till the polling ends on November 28. As the electioneering comes to a draw in MP, here is a highlight of the low points during the campaign trail.
The perils of electoral politics, manifested mostly in the form of communal, and caste divisions, were visible throughout the campaign. The exchange of jibes turned increasingly bitter between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress, with both sides touching a new low while launching personal attacks against each other. Full Schedule of MP Polls 2018.
MP Assembly Elections 2018 Campaign Highlights: List of Most Controversial Speeches & Remarks
Yogi Adityanath Pins Poll Battle as 'Ali vs Bajrangbali'
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was charged by the Opposition of attempting to polarise the electorate on communal lines. While addressing a rally in Bhopal, the senior BJP leader said his party counts on Bajrangbali as the Congress pins hope in Ali. His veiled jibe was a retort to Congress' MP unit chief Kamal Nath's purported claim that his party needs the votes of 90 per cent Muslims in the state.
Kamal Nath ji ka ek bayaan mai padh raha tha, unhone kaha ki hamein SC/ST ka vote nahi chahiye, Congress ko keval muslimo ka vote chahiye. Kamal Nath ji aap ko yeh Ali mubarak, hamare liye Bajrangbali paryaapt honge (I read a statement of Kamal Nath ji where he is saying that he does not want the SC/ST vote. The Congress needs only the Muslim votes. Kamla Nath ji, keep your Ali, Bajrang Bali is enough for us)," Yogi said. Watch here:
Rupee Nearing Age of Modi's Mother: Raj Babbar
Congress leader Raj Babbar crossed the line while campaigning in Madhya Pradesh's Indore City, as he "dragged" Modi's nonagenarian mother while taking a jibe at the Prime Minister.
"(Before becoming the Prime Minister) Modi used to say that compared to the (US) dollar, the value of the rupee has fallen to a level where it is almost the same as the age of the then Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh)," Babbar, the Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, said.
"Mr Prime Minister (Modi), at that time, you had not taken his (Manmohan Singh) name out of respect. Although our tradition does not allow this, we wish to say that now the value of the rupee has fallen to the age of your respected mother," he added.
Modi's 'Dead Son' Metaphor to Deflect Congress' Criticism of Demonetisation
As two years of demonetisation was marked earlier this month, the Opposition parties had flayed the Prime Minister over the shock drive which adversely affected the economy in the short-run.
While responding to the criticism, Modi told used a controversial metaphor during his Shahdol rally. "Even an old man who loses his son recovers in a year, but not Congress," he said.
Kamal Nath's 'Communal' Appeal
A video circulating on social media showing Kamal Nath appealing the party's Muslim cadre to ensure 90 per cent turnout from the minority community has drawn flak towards the Congress. The ruling BJP has accused the party of playing communal political. Here is the footage:
Four Generations of 1 Family v/s 4 Years of 'Chaiwala'
Irked by the Congress which has sought accountability from the Centre for the last 4 years, PM Modi trained his speech against the four generations of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which have been in power. "Four years of a chaiwala is giving challenge to four generations of a family," he said in Shahdol.
Kamal Nath 'Endorsing' Criminal Candidates
Among the string of videos which have appeared involving Kamal Nath, one of the footages showed him purportedly "endorsing" candidates with criminal cases, provided they stand a firm chance to win. Watch the video here:
Pollsters claim that the BJP, which has been in power for the last 15 years, faces its most stringent contest over the last decade. Will the Congress finally end its exile in the state? Or will Shivraj Singh Chouhan take oath for a fourth consecutive term? The results will be out on December 11.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 04:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).