MP leaders ride ‘rath’, bullock cart to woo voters

Bhopal : A modern ‘rath’ and a bullock cart are among the preferred modes of transport for top Madhya Pradesh leaders to campaign in the run-up to the February 24 bypolls in Mungawali and Shivpuri Assembly constituencies.

Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress have put their all in the campaigning for the byelections, which come ahead of the Assembly polls this year.

While Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan prefers helicopter rides to move to different places for campaigning, he is using a ‘rath’, which actually is a modified bus with a lift that changes into a makeshift dias on the rooftop, from which he addresses the electorate during campaigning for the bypolls.

On the other hand, erstwhile royal and Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was seen trying to connect to the common man by riding a bullock cart while on the way to Barkheda Dang area to address a public rally.

Speaking to Sahariya tribals in Aaron village in the constituency, Scindia said those who had not even given a nail to ensure the development of the area were now roaming the streets to canvass votes.

The bypolls in the two segments were necessitated by the demise of sitting Congress MLAs. Counting of votes will be taken up on February 28.

IANS