Modi out on campaign blitz in MP, Raj capitals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit out at the Opposition in twin campaign rallies in the capital cities of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan ahead of crucial assembly polls, accusing the Congress of dragging its feet on women's reservation and blaming the party for poor governance and nepotism.

In events in Bhopal and Jaipur, Modi took on the Opposition, calling the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) a "ghamandia" (arrogant) alliance and holding the Congress responsible for keeping the people of India poor and forcing them to live in misery for decades.

"Who gave the slogan of eradicating poverty 50 years ago? Did Congress fulfil its promise? No. I want to share with you one more statistic. In just five years of the BJP government, 130 million people have come out of poverty in the country. This is the result of Modi's guarantee," said the PM in Bhopal.

"Congress has lost all its willpower. The grassroots leaders of Congress have been sitting quietly with their mouths locked. First, Congress was ruined, then they became bankrupt and now they have given their contract to someone else. The party is no longer being run by its leaders. Now it is outsourcing everything, from slogans to policies, and this contract is with some urban naxalites," Modi added.

The high-voltage events came just months ahead of scheduled assembly polls in the two states.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP is looking to return to power, while in Rajasthan, a state where the incumbent is usually voted out, the BJP hopes to dethrone the Congress. Assembly polls in Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram are also scheduled later this year in what is seen as a virtual semi final before next year's general elections.

In both state capitals, Modi extensively spoke about the women's reservation bill, which set aside a third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures for female lawmakers, and was passed in the recently concluded special session of Parliament.