Tale of two yatras: How Modi and Keshubhai are fighting it out
4 Oct 2012 12:55 AM GMT
Ahead of state assembly elections scheduled before December, the two main political parties in Gujarat are fighting it out. The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress party are wooing voters by taking out yatras with decorated chariots criss-crossing urban and rural areas.
As expected the Vivekanand Yuva Vikas Yatra led by CM Narendra Modi is pulling big crowds as along the route he is addressing youth rallies in big cities where cash prizes and awards are conferred to winners of different competions and tournaments and for excellence in different areas.
On the other hand, the Shikshan Yatra organised by the Gujarat Pradesh Congress committee’s youth and students wing has also captured the attention of young voters in road meetings addressed by senior GPCC leaders.
While several BJP national leaders like L K Advani, Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and others have joined Modi in the Vikas Yatra, very few AICC leaders have turned up for the rallies and meetings for the Congress. It was only on Wednesday that AICC president Sonia Gandhi launched the party’s campaign by addressing a huge meeting in Rajkot which was well attended and is being considered to be a good kick start to the campaign by the Congress party which is making concerted efforts to win the battle of ballots. The political advisor to AICC chief Ahmed Patel who has been calling the shots in Gujarat was present at the rally and later on held several meetings with senior GPCC leaders in Rajkot and in Ahmedabad.
Modi’s yatra has so far covered most of the areas of the 182 assembly constituencies. While the Congress is not lagging behind and have organised meetings and community conventions in all big cities and towns giving a clear message that if they return to power, they would change the direction and conditions of Gujarat in all fields.
Former CM Keshubhai Patel has claimed that his Gujarat Parivartan Party’s yatra has attracted all sections of society mainly youths and farmers in the country side.
The yatra has received good response and Patel expressed hope that his party would get a majority in the assembly polls.
As expected the Vivekanand Yuva Vikas Yatra led by CM Narendra Modi is pulling big crowds as along the route he is addressing youth rallies in big cities where cash prizes and awards are conferred to winners of different competions and tournaments and for excellence in different areas.
On the other hand, the Shikshan Yatra organised by the Gujarat Pradesh Congress committee’s youth and students wing has also captured the attention of young voters in road meetings addressed by senior GPCC leaders.
While several BJP national leaders like L K Advani, Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh and others have joined Modi in the Vikas Yatra, very few AICC leaders have turned up for the rallies and meetings for the Congress. It was only on Wednesday that AICC president Sonia Gandhi launched the party’s campaign by addressing a huge meeting in Rajkot which was well attended and is being considered to be a good kick start to the campaign by the Congress party which is making concerted efforts to win the battle of ballots. The political advisor to AICC chief Ahmed Patel who has been calling the shots in Gujarat was present at the rally and later on held several meetings with senior GPCC leaders in Rajkot and in Ahmedabad.
Modi’s yatra has so far covered most of the areas of the 182 assembly constituencies. While the Congress is not lagging behind and have organised meetings and community conventions in all big cities and towns giving a clear message that if they return to power, they would change the direction and conditions of Gujarat in all fields.
Former CM Keshubhai Patel has claimed that his Gujarat Parivartan Party’s yatra has attracted all sections of society mainly youths and farmers in the country side.
The yatra has received good response and Patel expressed hope that his party would get a majority in the assembly polls.
Next Story
