Rahul rallies won't affect BJP chances in MP polls: Jha

BJP today described Congress Vice -President Rahul Gandhi as a "politician who is seen only during elections", saying that his two public rallies in the state this week will not dent the party's prospects in next month's Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.

"Rahul is visible only during special occasions like elections. The two poll meetings addressed by Rahul on October 17 would have no impact on the BJP's chances in the November 25 Assembly elections in the State," party Vice-President Prabhat Jha told PTI here.

Congress cannot hope to register a win in the Assembly elections just because its leaders appear before the people after many years and wave at them, he said.

Not only Rahul but some other Congress leaders, including Kamal Nath, too are visible only at the time of elections, the BJP leader said.

In contrast to this, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has become the face of the common man and his popularity is well-known, said Jha, a former State BJP President.

The BJP Chief Minister has launched many welfare schemes for the poor and farmers because of which he was known in every village in Madhya Pradesh, he added.