Yatras dominating run-up to assembly elections

PATNA: Yatras are dominating the run-up to the ensuing Bihar assembly polls due before November 22. All the main protagonists have come up with their own brand of Yatra.
NDA's chief ministerial candidate Nitish Kumar took the lead in the matter and launched his "Nyay Yatra" on July 11 in protest against the undemocratic dissolution of the state assembly through a presidential proclamation on May 22 following recommendation of governor Buta Singh even as the NDA was in a position to form a popular government.
Kumar claims that the UPA government dissolved the state assembly under RJD chief Lalu Prasad's pressure who was hell bent not to let the NDA form its government in Bihar at any cost.
Although the Nayay Yatra started as a movement launched by the NDA to protest dissolution of the state assembly, soon it took the form of electioneering for the coming assembly polls with Kumar accompanied by senior BJP leaders, including state BJP president Sushil Kumar Modi, and several former Union ministers holding roadside meetings while moving from one destination to another.
Initially, the Nayay Yatra was supposed to be a three-phase affair. But, apparently buoyed by its success, NDA soon made it a five phase one. The fifth phase will conclude on September 9.
Not to be left behind in the race to power, Kumar's arch political rival and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan launched his "Bhaichara Rath Yatra" to establish peace and harmony in the society.
And it goes without saying, the LJP is trying to woo the Muslims in a big way by demanding a Muslim chief minister in Bihar. The Congress has, however, described LJP's demand as unreasonable.
AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh has said that LJP's demand for a Muslim chief minister might help the NDA. Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Syed Shahnawaj Hussain on Thursday said that Paswan's insistence on a Muslim chief minister will communalise the whole political atmosphere of the state.
Although the BJP leaders are participating in JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar's Nyay Yatra, yet the BJP also launched its own five-day Swabhiman Yatra from Friday which will cover 80 out of the 243 assembly constituencies of the state.
The RJD, which initially did not attach any importance to either NDA's Nayay Yatra or LJP's Bhaichara Rath Yatra, has finally geared up for the polls.
On August 29, the party took out a daylong "Sankalp Yatra" headed by party supremo and railway minister Lalu Prasad in Patna. RJD had earlier launched a "Karwan Bedari Yatra" to create social harmony.
Although political formations and parties launching these Yatras are raising issues of public importance at their respective meetings, all these Yatras appear to be aimed at activating party workers in view of the polls.
LJP national vice president Ranjan Prasad Yadav conceded it.