Rajasthan News

Suraaj Sankalp Yatra for good governance starts by Vasundhara Raje

by RajasthanDirect
Apr 04, 2013

In a bid to repeat what she successfully accomplished a decade back – mauling Ashok Gehlot led Congress regime (1998-2003) – former chief minister Vasundhara Raje embarked on a Suraaj Sankalp Yatra (tour to promise good governance) from the temple town of Charbhuja, 38 km from the district headquarters of Rajsamand in Udaipur division on Thursday. She will complete the tour in phases over four months.

Significantly, it was exactly the same venue, Charbhuja – from where Raje had started her 103-day long – Parivartan Yatra (for change) – on April 23, 2003 when BJP, like this time round, had projected Raje as chief ministerial candidate.

BJP president Rajnath Singh flagged off the Yatra following a crowded public rally that was attended by party workers and elected representatives from across the state. Singh didn’t mince words when at the very outset of his speech he addressed Raje as "Bhaavi mukhyamantri" (future chief minister).

Despite the passage of 10 years since 2003 during which time she saw her rise – as chief minister- and fall following losing to Gehlot led congress in 2008 Raje on Thursday repeatedly emphasised on the unity of the party rank and file – lack of which was primarily responsible for the party’s defeat under her stewardship.

"We can win back if remain united and work hard for the next six months", she underlined while addressing the party workers who readily agreed and applauded with sloganeering.

Singh pointed out that the party had decided to project Raje as leader in view of her government’s extra-ordinarily good performance during 2003-08.

Ironically, it was during Singh’s last tenure as BJP president that he was directed by the party’s parliamentary board to ask Raje to quit as leader of the opposition in view of party’s poor performance in 2008 assembly and 2009 Lok Sabha elections. This had prompted Raje for a show of strength in New Delhi forcing the party to re-install her first as legislative party’s chief and then as state party president recently. It appeared Singh too was correcting his past mistake.

Listing omissions and commissions of Gehlot government that "discontinued several good schemes relating to empowering women and people at large launched by her government" Raje came down heavily on Gehlot for " political vendetta by instituting inquiry commissions" against her that, however "fell flat" as could not stand judicial scrutiny.

The Yatra that would conclude on July 21 after covering all the 200 constituencies of the state in phases comprises three specially designed raths (air-conditioned buses) including the main rath, another a stand-by and the one that was used by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi preceded by LK Advani during their respective yatras. The main rath, like others, is equipped with all luxuries and amenities. Taking a march over congress in terms of information technology use a ‘Vasundhara App’ has been designed for android phones and iPad to provide party men and common man updates on her Yatra.

Earlier, both Raje and Singh participated in the Aarti at the Charbhuja (Lord Vishnu) temple built in 15th century.

During the 11500 km long first phase Raje would cover Mewar (Udaipur region) and Vagad (tribal belt of Dungarpur-Banswara). The first phase will see 35 big public rallies in 12 days, besides public interface at 200 locations to culminate at Udaipur city on April 16, 2013. The second phase will begin on April 22 from Keshavrayji (Keoshavraypatan) and continue till April 29 in Kota division. The Yatra will resume from Bharatpur, Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur in the months of May, June and July. The last phase will cover Jaipur division and is slated to begin on July 9 from Khatushyamji and culminate in Jaipur city on July 21.

src: India Today

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