English | Telugu
Narendra Modi's election campaign kicks off on Advani's rath today
Updated : Sep 11, 2012
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will begin his month-long yatra from the religious town of Becharaji in north Gujarat today, which will cover major parts of the state. Interestingly, the name of Modi's yatra is Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra, which will begin on the day when spiritual leader Swami Vivekanada made his historic speech at the Chicago Conference of World Religions, 150 years ago. Billed as a beginning of his electoral campaign, the rath yatra will cover all the districts of the state. Interestingly, Modi will move in the same rath which was used by senior party leader LK Advani during last year's jan chetna yatra.
Modi is seen as a favourite to win yet another election, but this time around he faces numerous issues including the emergence of Gujarat Parivartan Party, led by former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, and also the huge response to Congresses free housing scheme for women which seem to have rattled the chief minister. Last time Modi undertook a similar exercise was in 2002 when he took out his Gaurav Rath Yatra, ahead of the Assembly polls and after his resounding victory in the post-Godhra riots case. He returned to power with a thumping majority.