The Bharatiya Janata Party today went one step ahead towards holding assembly elections simultaneously with the Lok Sabha by launching its poll campaign from this temple town, a traditional Congress stronghold. Earlier, Munde offered pooja at the Tuljabhavani shrine here.

He went on appraising listeners about the accomplishments of his party's government at the Centre vis-a-vis in the State. Calling Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayavati and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha three khalanayikas vamps, Munde told the audience that these three pulled down the Vajpayee government for no fault of its own.

Munde devoted a major part of his speech extolling the achievements of the saffron alliance government in the State. He recalled decisions taken by the State Government to protect the interests of the farmers. The alliance government has changed the face of life in rural parts of the State by providing every village with electricity, water and roads, he added.