Indore: Hustle and bustle of electioneering reached a crescendo before it ended on Wednesday evening, two days before polling day, when fate of 486 candidates contesting from 66 seats of Malwa-Nimar region would be sealed in EVMs.The region that holds the key for government formation in Madhya Pradesh, saw high-pitched campaigning by stalwarts of both BJP and Congress – the former attempting to regain lost ground and the latter attempting to increase its last elections tally.In 2018, BJP, which held 56 of the 66 seats in Malwa-Nimar, was reduced to 27. After the upheaval by Jyotiraditya Scindia camp and subsequent bypolls, BJP raised its tally to 32. BJP relied heavily on PM Narendra Modis charisma – after back-to-back rallies, he ended his campaign in MP with a mega-roadshow in Indore. Union minister Amit Shah and several of his ministerial colleagues also held political rallies, laying down achievement of BJP at the centre and the state. Heads of other states like Yogi Adityanath and Devendra Fadnavis also pushed for votes.Congress roped in Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, to woo voters. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sachin Pilot and Digvijaya Singh also held a series of rallies in Malwa-Nimar region.Key target segments for politicking in Malwa-Nimar region were farmers, tribals and OBCs in certain segments. Leaders of both parties made their pitch. They also spoke about unemployment, industrialization, infrastructure and corruption.Gandhi siblings came down heavily on the centre and the state, alleging large-scale corruption – a viral video purportedly of a union ministers son gave their narrative a shot in the arm. They attempted to discredit claims of development and employment generation by Modi and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.They spoke about being betrayed after last polls when BJP stole their MLAs; how the Kamal Nath government was not allowed to operate.Congress leaders targeted BJP over unemployment, claiming only 21 government jobs were created during its tenure. They alleged price rise and that 50 per cent commission raj was prevailing in the state.In tribal areas, Priyanka Gandhi reminded voters of the Sidhi urination incident. In OBC belts, Rahul Gandhi promised caste census to ensure proportional jobs in the government for the backward classes. They promised farm loan waivers and sops for women.Priyanka Gandhi also spoke about crime against women and how benefits were being doled out to big industrialists.BJP had maintained a narrative that Kamal Nath government had stopped welfare schemes for the poor and failed to deliver on its promise of farm loan waivers. Chouhan claimed that central schemes were not allowed to be implemented in Madhya Pradesh.Modi went ahead with the narrative and expressed confidence that BJP will regain power at the centre in next Lok Sabha polls and if people of MP need a double-engine government, BJP should be voted to power.The prime minister accused Congress of failing to fulfil poll promises and told the people it is Modis guarantee that BJPs promises in the manifesto will be fulfilled.

Stay updated with all the Latest Indore headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.