BJP starts poll campaign

AHMEDABAD, Aug 10: As far as election campaign is concerned, the Bharatiya Janata Party has got going while the Congress is still tying its shoe-laces. While Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel is touring various parts, the party8217;s poll campaign managers are ready with an array of posters, booklets, pamphlets, banners, hoardings, stickers as well as audio and video cassettes.

Speaking to reporters here today, party leader and Gujarat Electricity Board chairman Nalin Bhatt said that that one-day training camps for four zones 8212; North Gujarat, Saurashtra, Central Gujarat, South Gujarat 8212; concluded today. About 100 party workers from each zone were trained about the partyline and how to interact with electorate while on campaign duty, he said.

Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel had already kicked off the party8217;s campaign, and had addressed rallies at Anand, Nadiad, Mandvi and Valsad, he said. Since election in Gujarat would be held in the first phase, many senior party leaders from the Centre would visit the State for canvassing, he said. While Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would tour the State on August 23 and 27, Home Minister L K Advani would be here on August 29-30. The focus of the campaign would be on national security and Kargil victory. The party would also cash in on the image of Vajpayee. The party would also make Narmada dam an electoral issue.

While Advani would file his nomination papers on August 12, other candidates would file their papers between August 12 and 14.