Triple engine

The BJP is getting innovative in its efforts to unseat Ashok Gehlot and retain Madhya Pradesh, including adding a third layer to its campaign

- PRATUL SHARMA

Much of Vasundhara Raje's political career has been linked to yatras. In the runup to the 2003 Rajasthan assembly elections, she began a Parivartan Yatra from the Charbhuja temple in Rajsamand, covered 13,000km across the state and became its first female chief minister. A decade later, she returned to the same venue and won another term, with an even bigger mandate. Third time proved unsuccessful, though, as another yatra from Rajsamand, this time as chief minister, could not save her government. Five years later, Raje is ready for a fourth Parivartan Yatra, set to begin on September 2; the state goes to the polls in December. This time she will not be alone. There will be three more yatras and more state leaders participating.

The BJP tweaked its plans to make these yatras a collective effort where other state leaders: state party president C.P. Joshi, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and former state party head Satish Poonia will participate. So, no leader gets projected as a CM face. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J.P. Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari will flag off these yatras, and the party will keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the main face of the campaign.