New Delhi: Senior BJP leader LK Advani is
set to start his anti-corruption rathyatra from veteran
socialist leader Jaiprakash Narayan's birthplace Sitabdiara in
Saran district of Bihar on his birth anniversary October 11,
according to party sources.
Ending speculation that he may start his yatra from
Sardar Patel's birthplace Karamsad in Anand district of
Gujarat, Advani has decided to begin his journey for good
governance and clean politics and against corruption in
Congress-led UPA government from JP's birthplace.
While the choice of Sitabdiara in Saran district is
logical as the yatra begins on Jaiprakash Narayan's birth
anniversary, tongues are likely to wag that Advani decided for
a change of venue as he did not get an enthusiastic response
from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during the latter's
fast.
Moreover, Modi has announced he will spend a day in each
district of Gujarat as part of his Sadbhavana Mission. Since
this is also being viewed as a form of "yatra", there are
apprehensions that Modi may hog all the limelight and put
Advani's rathyatra in the shadow.
Advani's yatra, which is likely to cover around 6,000 km,
will go through Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, some of the
southern states and also the North-East. Advani is likely to
fly to some of the places during different legs of the yatra.
Advani may take a break for Diwali as well as on
November 8, which marks his 84th birthday, to be in Delhi with
his family to celebrate.
He is meeting RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat in Nagpur tomorrow
to discuss his yatra and solicit support of the Sangh Parivar.
He will also meet party president Nitin Gadkari there
to inquire about his health. Gadkari had undergone an
operation on September 12 to lose weight.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 23:59