BJP leaders fighting for anti-corruption yatras

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani’s unilateral decision to go on an anti-corruption ‘rath yatra’ has created a rift within the party, as three of its prominent leaders were preparing to stage similar shows in Uttar Pradesh.

Former party president Rajnath Singh, Uma Bharati and Kalraj Mishra were planning to launch yatras in Uttar Pradesh against the Mayawati-led government and Union government over corruption. But their plan got disturbed by the sudden decision of Advani to launch a mega yatra against corruption and in support of good governance.

While Advani’s decision to go on yatra is being seen as an attempt to project himself as a prime ministerial candidate of the party for the 2014 elections, Singh, Bharati and Mishra hope a good show in the UP Assembly elections could help them strengthen their role at the centre.

“It’s true that not many people were aware Advani was planning a yatra. We were concentrating on three different yatras in UP to be led by Singh from Agra, Mishra from Varanasi and Bharati from Bundelkhand. But suddenly the focus has shifted to the yatra of Advani,” said a senior party leader, who is a part of making the plans for both yatras. “The plan was to start the yatras in UP by the end of September, but it could get delayed a little because of the yatra announced by Advani.”

The sudden decision of Advani to take the centre stage and lead the party for a yatra was not welcomed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which doesn’t want BJP to project anyone as the prime ministerial candidate for the next general elections.