BJP MPs and MLAs’ ‘mini yatra’ to merge with Raje’s yatra

JAIPUR SENIOR BJP LEADERS HELD A MEETING AT THE PARTY HEADQUARTERS TO TAKE STOCK OF

THE PREPARATIONS

FOR THE YATRA

: Suraj Gaurav Yatra will formally launch the ruling BJP’s election campaign in Rajasthan on August 4. Besides, party MLAs and MPs will take out ‘mini yatras’ in their constituencies when chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s Suraj Gaurav Yatra enters their segments.

Party chief Amit Shah will flag off the Suraj Gaurav Yatra from Rajsamand district on August 4 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Ajmer to conclude the 45-day campaign, BJP state unit president Madanal Saini said.

Saini will be visiting divisional headquarters and meet with party workers to take stock of preparations on the ground for the yatra.

The state goes to the polls later this year.

Senior BJP leaders held a meeting at the party headquarters here on Wednesday to take stock of the preparations for the yatra. The route for the yatra has been finalised, although the BJP leaders are tight-lipped.

The route has been chalked out taking into account the heavy rains in Rajasthan over the past few days, sources said.

Former state unit president Ashok Parnami has been made the yatra’s coordinator.

“The rath (bus) will touch maximum number of constituencies, chief minister Raje could use a helicopter to reach the remaining constituencies that are in remote locations and then return to resume the yatra on the main route,” a BJP leader said.

The specially designed bus has been parked at Raje’s civil lines residence and will undergo further makeover to project the yatra’s main themes of development and nationalism.

Raje will travel throughout the state for 45 days, interacting with the voters and highlighting the achievements of her government.

The yatra will be showcasing the work done by the state and central governments over the past four years and the other theme would be development.

The BJP will also be playing religion card, albeit subtly, with Raje visiting famous temples in districts and taking blessings of saints. In 2003 and 2013, Raje had launched her state-wide yatra from Charbhuja temple and both times the BJP won with an overwhelming majority, overthrowing the Congress government.