Congress chief Rahul Gandhi today reviewed the party's preparedness in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh at a meeting with top state leaders, where it was discussed that it may formally launch its election campaign in the state late next month.
According to sources, Gandhi was learnt to have discussed the progress made on the party manifesto in the state as well as any possible tie-up to oust the BJP from Madhya Pradesh.
They said that Gandhi was likely to lead the party's formal campaign in the state in the third week of August and the party leadership in the state were working out details of a poll event for the same.
Madhya Pradesh goes to polls later this year, along with the states of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.
Today's meeting was attended by PCC chief Kamal Nath, party campaign committee chief for the state Jyotiraditya Scindia, AICC general secretary incharge of party affairs in the state Deepak Babariya, CLP leader Ajay Singh and other state leaders.
"The party discussed the party's poll preparedness in Madhya Pradesh," Babariya told PTI after the meeting.
Asked whether the issue of him being allegedly manhandled by some party members at an event in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa city was discussed, Babariya denied it.
He said today's meeting was planned four days in advance and had nothing to do with yesterday's incident, where he was roughed up by some youth Congress leaders.
"It was a BJP-sponsored programme aimed at projecting the Congress in bad light," he said, adding that the ruling BJP was trying to create a rift in the party which was a united force and would oust the ruling dispensation out of the state.
Party sources said Gandhi also sought details of the Congress manifesto for Madhya Pradesh, where it seeks to raise the issue of farmers plight and the Mandsaur firing on farmers.
The BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years and the Congress is working hard to oust it from power this time.
The Congress is also in talks with the BSP for a possible tie-up in the state, though no understanding has been reached yet over seat-sharing between the two parties.
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