JABALPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday kickstarted the BJP's Lok Sabha poll campaign in Madhya Pradesh with a roadshow in Jabalpur that was attended by thousands of people.
He was accompanied by MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, state PWD minister Rakesh Singh and the party's Jabalpur Lok Sabha candidate Ashish Dubey.
The roadshow started around 6:30pm from Shaheed Bhagat Singh crossing and culminated at Adi Shankaracharya crossing in Gorakhpur locality here at 7:15pm.
PM Modi, who is on his first visit to the state after Lok Sabha polls were announced, Yadav and others held the BJP's poll symbol 'lotus' as their saffron coloured vehicle bedecked with flowers moved during the roadshow.
A large number of people had lined up on either side of the route right from 3 am despite the scorching heat and were seen clicking photographs and shooting videos using mobile phones.
Several of them held 'Mera Ghar Modi Ka Ghar' and 'Mera Pariwar Modi Ka Pariwar' placards.
The BJP had started a campaign to highlight that people of the country comprised Modi's family, the move coming after Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Yadav had said the PM spoke about dynastic politics but had no family of his own.
Tribals groups performed several dances enroute, including 'Badhai Nritya', a dance form of the state's Bundelkhand region that is on display to mark marriages, childbirth and other happy occasions.
Slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram', 'Ab ki baar 400 paar' and 'Jo Ram ko laaye hai, hum unko layenge' were shouted all along the route.
PM Modi started the roadshow by garlanding the statues of Bhagat Singh, Adi Shankaracharya and Rani Durgavati, a legendary Gond queen hailed for her valiant fight against the Mughals several centuries ago.
Eight people including a cop injured
Such was the enthusiasm that people on a wooden dais jostled to get a better glimpse of the PM, causing the structure to topple.
Nearly eight people including a cop were injured in the stage collapse.
The injured were admitted to Victoria Hospital. PWD minister Rakesh Singh visited the hospital and consoled the victims.
"...Some people have left the hospital after first aid, while 4-5 people are undergoing treatment with minor wounds," Singh said.
Jabalpur is part of the state's Mahakoshal region, which also comprises Chhindwara, the only Lok Sabha seat the BJP had failed to win in the 2019 polls.
The ruling party had swept the remaining 28 seats in MP.
Jabalpur and Chhindwara will go to polls in the first phase on April 19 along with Sidhi, Shahdol (ST), Mandla (ST) and Balaghat.
(With inputs from ENS)