Divided Congress Presents United Face Ahead of Protest Rally in Bhopal

Bhopal: With Bhopal administration busy fortifying the city ahead of Congress's planned mega protest rally on Wednesday evening, the party leaders tried their best to present a united face in the wake of factionalism.

The Congress has planned public meeting at Tin Shed and to gherao state Assembly over the 'misplaced' policies of Shivraj Singh government.

Meanwhile, Old city areas came to a standstill on Tuesday night after thousands of Congress workers reached airport to greet party leaders Kamal Nath, Digvijay Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Suresh Pachauri and Vivek Tankha who landed in Bhopal.

A dinner party was also thrown at party's Link Road office where senior leaders gathered to meet. Former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was seen sharing food with former state president Suresh Pachauri.

“CM Chouhan is taking Assembly at his party office. Any disruption in gherao would lead to state wide protests,” party state in charge Mohan Prakash said.

Senior leaders also spoke in unison when it came to showing unity.

“The Congress would stand united and we will uproot the BJP government collectively,” party national general secretary Digvijay Singh said.

There are no factions in the party and we are going to fight united till 2018 for change of rule in Madhya Pradesh, said the former union minister Kamal Nath.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, one of the top contenders for chief ministerial post in 2018, said that Congress would expose the BJP government with new positivity and unity.

“We will all stand united till 2018 to form Congress government in Madhya Pradesh,” said Scindia who was denied government guest house for his stay.

The regional satraps voiced opposition at administration’s decision to revoke permission for Congress protest rally at Tin Shed.

The Bhopal administration first granted the permission and later revoked it citing short space for a mass gathering Congress workers. The party expects arrival of one lakh workers during the demonstration.

The district administration has planned to prevent arrival of outsiders into the city.

Congress has planned to corner Shivraj Singh government on multiple issues including Katni hawala scam, illegal mining and rampant malnutrition in the state.