Event to rename Rajiv Gandhi Marg cancelled

A controversy around the Congress’s functioning in Chhattisgarh was averted at the last hour on Monday. Rajiv Gandhi Marg in Raipur was scheduled to be renamed  Shayama Charan Shukla Marg — after the former chief minister — in a ceremony on Tuesday. AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh was scheduled to preside over the event. However, the event was cancelled on Monday night, reportedly after concerned Congress leaders received orders from Delhi.

This would have been the first instance of a road named after former PM Rajiv Gandhi being renamed after another Congress leader. “I named the road after Rajiv Gandhi when I was the CM. How could it be named again? I told them (the Congress leadership) about it,” former CM Ajit Jogi said.

The event was being organised by Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Kiranmayi Nayak and a foundation formed by Shukla’s son Amitesh Shukla. Full page advertisements for the event were issued in local newspapers on Monday, carrying photographs of local leaders with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

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Shukla has served as the CM of undivided Madhya Pradesh thrice. His son Amitesh served as a minister in the Ajit Jogi government and is currently an MLA.

The road that was set to be renamed links VIP Chowk to the Raipur airport.