Battle for Gwalior: Canvassing in full bloom

Gwalior, Mar 5 (UNI) Ahead of the March 8 Gwalior Parliamentary Constituency bypolls, all political parties are canvassing here in full bloom in a bid to safe electoral victory.

Addressing a mammoth public meeting here today in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Yashodhara Raje Scindia, who is also Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Sports Minister, BJP President Rajnath Singh praised the state government saying only late BJP leader Vijaya Raje Scindia's daughter Yashodhara ''can ensure the region's development''.

''The Congress-led regime at the Centre is unable to check spiralling prices and every social segment is vexed,'' he alleged.

Ms Yashodhara's sister and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, her Madhya Pradesh counterpart Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state BJP President Narendra Singh Tomar and several Cabinet Ministers have already canvassed here.

Meanwhile, the Congress -- which was initially on the backfoot -- has forgotten internal differences to try to give the BJP a hard fight. Supporters of Guna MP Jyotiraditya Scindia and former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh have joined hands to drum up support for their candidate Ashok Singh.

''The Congress is unanimously contesting the byelection like in the days of late Madhavrao Scindia,'' claimed Mr Digvijay Singh.

Congress state in-charge V Narayansamy, Union Ministers Suresh Pachauri and Hansraj Bharadwaj were among several leaders who canvassed here. Party sources said that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will address a poll rally tomorrow.

Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh and MP Jaya Bachchan have drummed up support for SP nominee Munnalal Goyal. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's son and MP Akhilesh is scheduled to hold an election meeting tomorrow.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati will arrive for canvassing in favour of Kedarsingh Vidhudi while Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has campaigned for Lok Jan Shakti Party's Phool Singh Baraiya.

UNI