BJP’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ends as ticket hopefuls show strength
The BJP’s month-long campaign -- Parivartan Yatra -- in poll-bound Uttarakhand ended here on Monday after covering over 5,000 km and touching all 70 assembly constituencies.
The BJP’s month-long campaign -- Parivartan Yatra -- in poll-bound Uttarakhand ended here on Monday after covering over 5,000 km and touching all 70 assembly constituencies.
The rally’s culminating event came as an opportunity for ticket hopefuls from Haridwar and Dehradun districts to show their strength before the party’s Uttarakhand in-charge and union health minister JP Nadda.
The yatra was launched on November 12 and its Kumaon leg ended on December 7 and Garhwal leg on Monday. The hill state goes to the polls early next year.
When the rally reached Haridwar Road in the capital city at 2 pm, BJP state unit president Ajay Bhatt, Parivartan Yatra’s convener Balraj Pasi, mayor Vinod Chamoli and Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’ joined it.
At Haridwar Road, crowd shouted slogans like ‘Umesh Sharma Zindabad’ and ‘Modi Zindabad’ in favour of the former Congress legislator, who joined the BJP in May. Kau is a strong contender to get BJP nomination from Raipur constituency, under which Haridwar Road falls.
Kau’s son Honey Sharma, an active member of BJP youth wing, was also present at the rally with his supporters.
Claiming the campaign a success, the BJP state unit head told the media, “We will win (assembly poll) with a two-third majority.”
The rally on Monday touched the city’s 20 points including Rispana Bridge, Araghar, Prince Chowk, Saharanpur Chowk, Sabzi Mandi, GMS Road and Ballupur. It concluded at Tapkeshwar ground where defence minister Manohar Parrikar addressed public.
Ticket hopeful Rajendra Singh Pundir’s supporters welcomed the rally at Khadi Gramodyog in GMS Road that falls under Dehradun Cantt constituency. While sitting Dehradun Cantt MLA Harbans Kapoor and his supporters welcomed it in Chaudhary Farm House.
Councilor and another ticket hopeful from the constituency Amita Singh greeted the rally near Wadia Institute. “We have done great work for the party and it’s the time when senior leaders should acknowledge our contribution,” Singh told Hindustan Times.