PM Modi Kickstarts Campaign In Chhattisgarh, Says Corruption Became India's Identity During Congress' Reign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is kickstarting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Lok Sabha 2024 poll campaign in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra today (April 8). PM Modi Modi addressed a poll rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar and will address another public meeting in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur later in the day, to seek votes for BJP candidates.

With the first phase of the Lok Sabha Election 2024 election around the corner, BJP is looking at a third term in Office at the Centre.

Modi In Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, the Prime Minister addressed a public rally in Aamabal village in Bhanpuri in Bastar Lok Sabha constituency to support BJP candidate Mahesh Kashyap.

Addressing the public meeting, the Prime Minister said he came to Chhattisgarh to thank people for supporting my government in the last 10 years.

“Chhattisgarh has left no stone unturned in giving its blessings to me…You have come here in such large numbers to bless us today. You people have not only formed the BJP government here but have also strengthened the foundation of developed India,” he said.

He also slammed Congress and said it never understood the problems faced by the poor and during its regime, corruption had become the country’s identity.

“After many decades the country has seen a stable and strong government of BJP. The biggest priority of our government was the welfare of the poor. After independence, the Congress government ignored the needs of the poor for decades, the Congress never cared about the poor, and did not even understand their problems…Due to my government’s efforts, 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line,” he said.

He reiterated his earlier claim that the Congress manifesto for Lok Sabha polls has an imprint of the Muslim League.

He further said that after independence, Congress thought that it had the license to loot the country but after coming to the government in 2014, Modi cancelled the loot license of Congress.

“Modi was able to cancel the license because you gave Modi the license. Now their shop has been closed, will they abuse Modi or not? So who will protect me? These crores of my countrymen, my mothers and sisters, have become my raksha kavach (protective shield) today,” the Prime Minister said.

“When the world’s greatest crisis – Covid – came to India, people used to wonder how India would survive. Under Congress’ rule, vaccines took many years to reach India but I stood with the poor of the country and I decided to provide free vaccines and free ration,” he added.

Bastar Lok Sabha constituency will go to polls on April 19. Polls for the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will take place in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7. Results will be declared on June 4.

The BJP, which has a stronghold in Chhattisgarh, won 9 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha, while the Indian National Congress (INC) was limited to only 2 seats. In the 2014 election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 10 seats, while the INC only managed to win one seat.

Modi In Maharastra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a rally at 5:00 p.m. in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district on Monday.

The BJP has nominated the state’s Forest, Cultural Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from Chandrapur Lok Sabha constituency.

Polling in the seat, located in the Vidarbha region, will be held in the first phase on April 19. Results will be declared on June 4.

Congress candidate Balu Dhanorkar had won the Chandrapur seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, however, the seat was vacated after he passed away in May 2023.

Maharashtra sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha, which is the second highest after Uttar Pradesh which has 80 seats in the Lower House.