The BJP on Monday unleashed all its senior leaders to hit out at Rahul Gandhi, with Union ministers and chief ministers fanning out across the country to hold 70 news conferences at 70 locations.

Party MPs protested in Parliament, trying to use the Supreme Court “clean chit” on the Rafale deal to launch an all-out attack on the Congress president. A privilege notice was moved against Rahul in the Lok Sabha.

The blitz is part of an effort by BJP president Amit Shah, perturbed by defeats in three heartland states at the hands of the Congress, to change the mood ahead of the general election.

Many in the BJP feel the recent state election results have announced Rahul’s arrival as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi next summer.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was sent to Guwahati, his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis to Hyderabad. Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Ravi Shankar Prasad travelled to Mumbai and Bhopal, respectively, and party general secretary Ram Madhav to Chennai.

Their prime contention was that the apex court judgment was a “slap in the face of Rahul Gandhi” and had demolished his “lies” on the Rafale deal. “Rahul Gandhi used lies after lies to mislead the people and compromised with the country’s security. The Supreme Court judgment has exposed his lies,” Fadnavis told reporters.

Adityanath said: “Rahul has said he doesn’t agree with the judgment. This is contempt of court and shows the Congress’s irresponsible attitude towards institutions.”

In the Lok Sabha, BJP members stood on their seats holding placards that demanded an apology from Rahul.