Congress president Rahul Gandhi will launch his party's campaign in Madhya Pradesh on Monday. Surprisingly, in the posters displayed in Bhopal, he is being portrayed as a devotee of Lord Shiva.
He would take part in a roadshow and also address party workers during his day-long visit to the state capital. He will arrive here by an aircraft at around noon on Monday. He will then embark on a 15-kilometer-long roadshow from Lalghati Chowk, located close to the airport, after seeking the blessings of more than 11 Hindu priests.
The roadshow, in which Rahul would ride an open vehicle, will conclude at Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd's Dussehra Maidan, where he will interact with party cadres.
PCC Spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said, "A T-shape ramp has been constructed near the stage from where Gandhi is going to take questions from party workers and interact with them.” Besides, he is going to address a meeting of Congress workers, which is open to public, before leaving in the evening, he added. "We are upbeat as our leader is coming to launch the election campaign," Chaturvedi said.
Ahead of the visit, the main opposition party has put up posters and banners in Bhopal describing the 48-year-old Congress chief, who just returned from a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar, as a 'Shiv bhakt'.
As part of the pilgrimage, devotees undertake an arduous journey to Mount Kailash, which is considered the abode of Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology. Security has been tightened in the city in view of Gandhi's visit, Bhopal Inspector General (IG) of Police Jaideep Prasad said. "We have got an extra force of 1,500 policemen who have already been deputed," he said. Asked about the possibility of protests during the Gandhi's visit, Prasad said they have not yet received any inputs in this regard.
"All steps are being taken to maintain law and order. I am personally monitoring the security arrangements and the routes Gandhi is going to pass through," he said. Congress workers are arriving in Bhopal from all over the state to welcome the party chief and take part in the meeting. "We are expecting more than one lakh Congress cadres in the state capital," a police officer said.