Advani Rides Past Dal Base In Pomp

BJP president L K Advanis `Swarna Jayanti Rath yesterday rode through constituencies that are supposed to be pocket boroughs of the Janata Dal (JD) and the Communist party of India (CPI).

As it reached Patna, the seat of power in Bihar, Advani become more strident in enlisting Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav for the fodder scam and for shamelessly sticking to the chair.

Advani reminded people that the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed emergency on 26 June 1975, for fear of losing her chair, and all those who opposed her were put behind bars. Yadavs political career started as a disciple of Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan, who stood face-to-face against Indira Gandhi and mobilised the nation against emergency. And what a sad day that his disciple has crossed all levels of corruption. At least, he should be truthful to the Lok Nayak, he said at Begusarai, a CPI stronghold.

Advani has been pulling big crowds through out the way, particularly in the district headquarters.

Braving heavy downpour on Thursday night, many people thronged to hear Advani speak in Samastipur, Muzaffarpur (the seat won by water minister J N Nishad) and Hajipur (represented by Ram Vilas Paswan).

But whether this response would translate into votes for the BJP remains to be seen. Sanjay Kumar of Samastipur said Now that Yadav in chargesheeted and he will go soon, every one is excited to know what Advani has to say. But a BJP worker admitted that the good response to Advani has got to do more with the timing of the rath yatra.

Although the aim of the yatra is to popularise the BJP in the state, and establish Advani as a mass leader, it is clear that it has long way to go before identifying itself with the regions rural population.

In Gaura village, many have not ever heard of Advani, but became vaguely familiar when someone among the crowd pointed out that belongs to the party of Shatrughan Sinha (film actor).