From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, several leaders from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress addressed public meeting in the poll-bound Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. Pics/PTI/ANI

Addressing a public meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of toppling his party's government in Madhya Pradesh in 2020 by purchasing MLAs, and expressed confidence that the grand old party would win around 150 seats in the assembly elections in the state to be held on November 17.

"A storm is going to come in favour of the Congress. The party will be winning 145 to 150 seats. Five years back, you (people) elected a Congress government but BJP leaders (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, (MP Chief Minister) Shivraj Singh and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah purchased the MLAs and stole your government," Gandhi said.

The Kamal Nath-led Congress dispensation, which was in power in Madhya Pradesh for 15 months till March 2020, waived farm loans of 27 lakh farmers. But by toppling that government, the BJP deceived labourers, farmers, small traders and unemployed people, he alleged.

"The BJP ran a 40 percent cut government in Karnataka...(After Congress came to power there) I told the Karnataka chief minister to return the money that was snatched by the BJP government from the pockets of poor people in five years. I told him to return the money to the poor, which the BJP had given to the rich," he said.

Addressing a public rally at Betul, PM Modi said Congress has accepted defeat ahead of elections. "Congress knows that its fake promises won't work in front of Modi's guarantees," the PM said. "As November 17 is nearing, Congress' claims are getting exposed. Congress has accepted the defeat and now they're relying on luck," he said.

Modi said some Congress leaders are "sitting at home" and they don't even feel like going out. "Congress leaders don't know what they will say to people. Congress has accepted that their fake promises don't stand a chance in front of Modi guarantees," he said.

"This election is to stop corruption and loot by Congress in Madhya Pradesh," he said. "You know that wherever Congress comes, they bring destruction," he added.

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties on Tuesday attacked the Modi government for "appointing" Janardhan Chaudhary as a member of the Centre's Expert Appraisal Committees (EAC) under the Environment Ministry, alleging he is an employee of the Adani group.

Chaudhary was appointed in September to the all-important panel, which has to clear several power projects, including some of the Adani Group, according to media reports. "Adani Pradhan Sevak appointed Adani employee Janardhan Choudhury as a member of EAC under Environment Ministry. This committee has to approve 6 Adani projects (10,300 MW)," the Kerala Congress claimed on its official X account.