Congress to launch 'Sandesh Yatra' in Rajasthan

Eying a second term in office, the ruling Congress today announced to launch a 'Sandesh Yatra' in poll-bound Rajasthan for establishing a connect with the people in all 200 Assembly consituencies.
The campaign is also touted as a move to counter BJP state chief Vasundhara Raje's 'Suraaj Sankalp Yatra', which is scheduled from April 4.
Assembly elections are due in the state later this year.
"The Yatra will begin on March 30 and will covering all the 200 assembly constituencies by June 30 in different phases," party's state chief Chandrabhan said here today.
He said Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot himself, besides Rajasthan in-charge of party affairs Mukul Wasnik and other senior office bearers and party workers will participate in public meetings.

Congress top-brass leaders like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi are also likely to attend the meetings, he added.

When asked whether the Yatra was planned to counter Raje's campaign, he said such political drives are "not a patent" and in democracy, these events should be hold to inform public.
"Raje's Yatra aims at gaining power only, whereas the Congress's campaign will disseminate among people various pro-people decision and programmes of the state government," he said.
Launching an attack on Raje, Chandrabhan said during the past four years, "she had been in London" and it is "only during the time of elections" that Raje has started campaiging.