The Hindu : A family yatra as well

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

A family yatra as well

By Radha Venkatesan

DHARMAPURI, MARCH 13. In a sense, the Bharat Uday Yatra of the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, L.K. Advani, is a family programme as well. For, his wife Kamla and daughter Prathiba travel and campaign along with him.

Almost all through the first three days of the yatra in Tamil Nadu, Mrs. Kamla Advani sat along with Mr. Advani in the front seat of the campaign vehicle and waved to the crowds waiting on the roadside.

When the Swaraj Mazda stopped and Mr. Advani addressed an election meeting from atop the vehicle, both his wife and daughter were with him to cheer the crowd.

The two women also interacted with media at times. Herself a mediaperson, Ms. Prathiba always had a smile for the scribes. Did she want her father to don the Prime Ministerial mantle? "I don't mind my father becoming anything. I have no ambitions for him. I am happy whatever position he achieves,'' she told reporters. "My father is a great man. In fact, I have not seen a better human being than him,'' she gushed.

Where is the candidate?

The BJP's key campaigner, who came in a huge convoy to Dharmapuri, could only ask the people to vote for the party. For, the BJP is yet to decide the candidate for the constituency, allotted to it by the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). "The candidate will be announced in a day or two. But you should vote for the BJP,'' he told the gathering at Mettur, which falls within the constituency.

The late Union Minister, Vazhapadi K.Ramamurthy's son, Rama Suganthan, had prominently put up banners greeting Mr. Advani at Mettur and Dharmapuri town. Mr. Suganthan, who stood near his campaign vehicle, later told reporters, "I am hopeful of getting the ticket.''

Embarrassment

The AIADMK's Gobichettipalayam candidate, N.R. Govindarajar, travelled in the BJP propaganda vehicle when Mr. Advani campaigned in his constituency. But he could get in only after some embarrassing moments.

After greeting Mr. Advani at Perunthurai, he tried to clamber on the propaganda vehicle, which went ahead of the BJP leader's campaign bus. But he could not. For, television channel crew, travelling in the open jeep to get a good view of Mr. Advani's yatra, refused to let him in, not knowing that he was the candidate.

Without a murmur, Mr. Govindarajar walked off with folded hands.

However, a BJP functionary, who realised that he was the candidate, politely asked him to get in.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu