Sagar, Madhya Pradesh:
In BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh,
Rahul Gandhi today recounted how he was "bitten by mosquitoes and had a stomach bug from drinking water in villages" when touring the Bundelkhand area while campaigning for the general elections of 2009.
In his story was criticism of the BJP for what he called its "politics for those who have air conditioners." The Congress vice president, addressing a large rally in Sagar in the Bundelkhand region of the state, said political leaders could not hope to solve people's problems without seeing them close at hand.
(Watch video here)Not long after Mr Gandhi's speech, Madhya Pradesh chief minister tweeted, "Congress VP says, "BJP's politics is of air conditioning ... and royal ways". How ill informed one can be?"
Today Mr Gandhi did not share stories about his family. He went straight for the BJP's jugular. "The politics of India shining has not heard the voices of Bundelkhand," he said, referring to the war-cry that had helped the BJP to power in the state in 2003; it has ruled ever since.
Not any more, said Mr Gandhi. Congress leaders from the state had promised him, he said, that this time they would ensure a Congress victory by "fighting elections as one." Every time he alluded to a "united Congress", he looked towards the stage where leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh were seated.
The Congress has for long been afflicted by a problem of plenty in Madhya Pradesh. It draws some of its top-most leaders from the state - like Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, the Scindias - first Madhavrao and then son Jyotiraditya - but the party has been a deeply divided house there.
"The Congress government that is formed will be that of the people. Of the people of Bundelkhand," Mr Gandhi said to loud applause.
The responsive crowd answered Mr Gandhi's questions in loud chorus. Like when he asked, "Has the BJP government brought development and employment to Bundelkhand?"
"No", his audience answered.
Bundelkhand is geographically the central part of India covering parts of both Madhya Pradesh and a bit of Uttar Pradesh. The people of the region, which was hit by acute drought in 2007-08, have been demanding a separate state.