'Shiv Bhakt' Rahul 's second MP tour from today

Temple-visits and worshipping will continue to mark Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s campaign in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

He is scheduled to start the second phase of electioneering from Thursday with a visit to the famous Kamtanath temple in Chitrakoot on MP-UP border. He had launched the campaign in the state on September 17 amid chanting of mantras and blowing conches by 11 priests in Bhopal.

During his two-day tour from September 27, the Congress chief will hold roadshows in Rewa and Satna of Vindhya region. He will also address election meetings.

Rahul will launch the third phase of the election campaign from Jabalpur with puja on the banks of Narmada river on October 5. Next day, he will go to Gwalior to take part in a roadshow.

During his Bhopal tour, many posters and banners were put up showing Rahul as "Shiv bhakt". Some banners had photographs of Rahul paying obeisance to Lord Shiva in Kailash Mansarovar where he had recently visited.

The BJP mocked the Congress’s depiction of its president as "Shiv Bhakt" as a poll-time drama to influence Hindi voters.