BJP plans rath yatra for people connect in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Months before the assembly elections, Delhi BJP has planned a rath yatra across all 70 assembly constituencies in the capital to feel the pulse of Delhiites. It will cover all unauthorised colonies, a crucial component of the capital’s vote bank.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said that contrary to the AAP government’s claims, the condition of the people in unauthorised colonies did not improve under chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.“Many unauthorised colonies are facing waterlogging problems. In some colonies, drain water spills over to the road, making it difficult for people to walk. The AAP government has done nothing for regularising these colonies,” said Tiwari, who will lead the yatra beginning by early October. A goods van will be converted into a rath, a source said.
“Senior BJP leaders, who are connected to Delhi, will talk to people and find out about their problems. People living in rented houses are paying through the nose for electricity. We will expose the government after taking feedback from people,” said Tiwari, who chaired a meeting on Monday to finalise the campaign.
The checklist will be long — clean water, condition of roads, sewerage connections and condition of sewer lines, numbers and effectiveness of mohalla clinics and utility of other government schemes. “The party will form several committees in each district to provide background support. Each committee will take care of a specific field and guide the participating leaders,” said the head of media relations, Neelkant Bakshi.
The yatra has been planned after Union minister Prakash Javadekar, the assembly election in-charge, and a few other leaders suggested that the issues of unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters be highlighted. The feedback will not only help the party prepare its manifesto but also be crucial in zeroing in on major issues, the source said. All BJP MPs, including Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, will participate in the campaign.
Last month, Tiwari had organised Dilli Bachao Parivartan Yatra but it had to be curtailed following the death of former Union minister Arun Jaitley.