Before bypoll, a marathon idea

The Narendra Modi government has decided to organise a statewide ‘Svachh Gujarat-Samras Gujarat Marathon’ between October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti) and October 11 (Jayprakash Narayan’s birth anniversary) to ‘‘create awareness among Dalits and tribals on their rights, social justice and equality’’. The marathon will end two days before the by-elections to four Assembly seats — Vyara, Dharampur, Borsad and Bhanvad — the first two reserved for ST and the others having a sizeable Dalit votebank.

The state Chief Electroral Officer (CEO) has requested the Election Commission (EC) to hold by-election for the Khedbrahma seat (reserved for ST) also along with the four other seats.

The ‘‘marathon’’ idea came from Narendra Modi at a meeting of the state vigilance and monitoring committee on Thursday. The committee, headed by Modi, was recently reconstituted to review the implementation of the laws relating to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities and suggest amendments. An official statement said the CM suggested at the meeting that efforts to create an environment of social equality and a sense of brotherhood among Dalits and tribals should be encouraged.

Sources in the CEO’s office said the model code of conduct is already in force in the four districts where the bypolls will be held on October 13.