AAP begins Gujarat campaign, terms BJP 'arrogant and corrupt'

The AAP on Monday launched its election campaign in Gujarat with a roadshow in the city, even as its senior leader Gopal Rai mounted a scathing attack on the ruling BJP calling it "arrogant, corrupt and murderer".

Rai, a minister in the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Delhi government, told reporters before the roadshow that the pride of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had "scaled higher than Mount Everest".

"When people come out to seek justice against corruption, unemployment, deteriorating condition of schools, injustice to farmers, the arrogant BJP government has only given them sticks and bullets.

"People will give them a befitting reply with ballots in elections," he said.

Rai alleged that it was impossible in Gujarat to get any work done without corruption.

As many as 1,000 vehicles, 700 bikes, 200 autorickshaws and 10 publicity raths with 5,000 workers from across the state joined the 21-km roadshow from the Naroda area to Sabarmati Ashram late evening.

The AAP, which was active in the state, had gone into virtual hibernation after the party's drubbing in the Punjab and Goa Assembly polls last year and was learnt to be in two minds on contesting the Gujarat elections likely in December.

However, sources said it was much pressure from the local Gujarat unit of the party that the AAP leaders decided to jump in the fray. The AAP has still not clarified how many of the 182 seats it will contest, while it had earlier stated it would field candidates everywhere.

--IANS

desai/vd