Opinion Another rath rolls

The move triggered something unusual — an unseemly jostling for power within the BJP,even though general elections are nearly three years away. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi organised a show of strength in Ahmedabad with a much publicised fast to make clear that he considered himself the tallest leader in the party. Not to be left behind,the normally modest Nitin Gadkari hinted that he could not be ruled out from the prime ministerial sweepstakes. Gadkari perhaps has an edge over other prime ministerial contenders as he is backed by the RSS. The RSS bosses,keen to protect Gadkari’s interests,even summoned Advani to Nagpur. They reportedly offered all support for what could be a fitting last hurrah for Advani,but they wanted him to explicitly rule himself out of the leadership race and make way for the younger generation. Significantly,Advani wriggled out of giving a categorical assurance on that aspect both in Nagpur and at his press conference on the eve of the yatra. By voluntarily bowing out,Advani would have enhanced his image as an elder statesman above personal politics. Instead,he seems to be clinging to a prime ministerial dream that is well nigh impossible to realise.

However,neither the RSS nor the BJP can afford to be seen as not backing the yatra. A flop show would reflect poorly on the entire Sangh Parivar. The aim is to try and ensure the yatra does not become a vehicle for Advani’s own glorification. Advani’s face alone will not dominate posters,unlike in the past. The triumvirate of A.B. Vajpayee,Advani and Gadkari have been painted on the rath to send the message that the Jan Chetna Yatra is a BJP programme,not a one-man show. Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra,meanwhile,will undertake separate yatras in UP.

This yatra seems to be partly inspired by the groundswell of support for Anna Hazare’s Jan Lokpal bill. Perhaps Advani hoped Hazare would bring about a JP-style change — significantly,the yatra starts from Jayaprakash Narayan’s birthplace at Sitab Diara in Bihar — in which the BJP would be firmly on the Jan Lokpal bandwagon. But Hazare poured cold water on this idea by making clear he had nothing to do with Advani’s yatra. Which is why,somewhere along the way,the yatra has broadened its scope to include not just corruption but also good governance. On the eve of his journey,Advani focused on the failure of the government to release the list of those who have stashed their black money in tax havens abroad.

The chariot Advani uses is a mini-bus with the latest conveniences to make the long and arduous journey comfortable for a remarkably fit octogenarian. Since he plans to cover 23 states and four Union territories,Advani’s journey will include a series of air travels. There will be 14 trips by special aircraft and six helicopter hops. He will also take time off the yatra for Diwali and his birthday on November 8.

The selection of the route seems random,with no special emphasis on states going for assembly elections next year — such as UP,Punjab,Uttarakhand and Goa. The rath will pass through Gujarat,despite speculation that Modi and Advani are no longer on the best of terms. By omitting both Ayodhya and Somnath,Advani seems keen to convey that he has discarded his hardcore Hindutva persona and now wants to project an inclusive image.