The Hindu : When all roads led to Shivpuri

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2002

National

National

When all roads led to Shivpuri

By Lalit Shastri

Chitrangadaraje Scindia, senior Congress leader, Arjun Singh, Madhviraje Scindia, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh, and the State Minister, Mahendra Singh Kalukheda, at the election rally of Jyotiraditya Scindia (in the centre with black jacket) at Shivpuri on Tuesday.

SHIVPURI (M.P.) Feb. 19. Congress leaders today said that voters could pay tribute to the late Union Minister, Madhavrao Scindia, by voting for his son in the byelection to the Guna-Shivpuri parliamentary seat. They also reiterated the importance of the election, saying it would herald the arrival of a "young leader on the horizon of Indian politics".

Today all roads led to Shivpuri as people from near and far-off villages drove into the town in tractors and lorries to take part in the Congress rally — the last before the curtains came down on campaigning at 5 p.m. today.

Mr. Scindia left his residence here — the historic Bombay Kothi — at around 12.30 p.m. at the head of a huge procession that wound its way through the busy city streets and ended up as a rally at Court Road. Besides Mr. Scindia and his mother, Madhviraje Scindia, the rally was addressed by the senior Congress leader, Arjun Singh, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh, the State Ministers, K.P. Singh, Mahendra Singh Kalukheda and Shravan Patel, the former MP, Ranjit Singh, and the Indian Youth Congress president, R.S. Surjewala.

Addressing the rally, Mr. Scindia reiterated his family's "eternal bond" with the people, saying it had been nurtured by blood and sweat. Just like his forefathers, he too would dedicate his life to the cause of people and the development of the region.

Mr. Arjun Singh said the voters had an opportunity to shape history. Madhavrao Scindia, who was always a crusader for people's causes, had acted as a bridge between "history and the hopes for the future". He symbolised the spirit of total devotion. The same spirit of selfless service and commitment to the cause of the nation was now visible in Mr. Jyotiraditya.

Mr. Surjewala said that Mr. Scindia symbolised the arrival of a new and young leadership. Ms. Madhviraje said that her son was fully committed to the proud legacy of his father.

Mr. Digvijay Singh said that neither the region nor the country would forget Madhavrao Scindia's contributions. His son would not leave any stone unturned to meet the high goals he had set for himself.

The BJP also ended its campaigning for its candidate, Rao Deshraj Singh Yadav, with a public meeting organised simultaneously at a stone's throw away from the Congress rally. The Union Minister, Uma Bharti, was the main speaker at the rally.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National