Narendra Modi announces yatra ahead of Gujarat polls

Ahmedabad, Sept 7:

chief minister

has decided to embark on a month-long yatra from Sept 11 in poll-bound Gujarat, which will cover major parts of the state. Interestingly, the name of Modi's yatra is Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra, which will begin on the day when spiritual leader

made his historic speech at the Chicago Conference of World Religions, 150 years ago.

"The yatra will start from Becharaji temple town of North Gujarat in the presence of former BJP president Rajnath Singh and Rajya Sabha opposition leader Arun Jaitley," BJP spokesperson Vijay Rupani said. Becharaji has been chosen as a starting point as Maruti will construct its new car plant near the temple town and the yatra will also talk about development of the state, he said.

This is the first major election campaigning exercise being carried out by Modi ahead of elections to be held by the end of this year, after the state's Congress opposition organised four major yatras. "As this is the 150th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda speech at the Conference of World Religions, 150 small yatras will also be taken out along with the main yatra to cover all taluka centres and villages possible," he said.

Earlier, Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) president Keshubhai Patel had criticised Modi for using Swami Vivekananda's name for political gains.

PTI