Battle of Yatras: Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0 vs. BJP's Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in the Run-Up to 2024 Elections

As the countdown to the 2024 General Elections to the Lok Sabha continues, political parties intensify efforts to energize their cadres. Congress, led by Senior Leader Rahul Gandhi, gears up for Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0, encompassing the Bharat Nyay Yatra from Jan 14, 2024, to Mar 20, 2024, covering 14 states and 85 districts over a 6200 km route. Congress leaders express optimism about its impact on cadre morale and the party's electoral prospects, highlighting their historic legacy and emphasizing undisclosed ideologies against the ruling party. The I.N.D.I.A. Alliance adds another layer of anticipation for tough contests in the upcoming elections.

On the other side, BJP launches the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, focusing on motivating rural and urban masses by showcasing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievements in the last nine and a half years. The construction of the Shree Ram Temple takes center stage, with idols set to be installed on Jan 22, 2024. BJP aims to leverage this and present a vision for a Developed India by 2047. The battleground shifts to voters who hold the key to success, influenced by each party's cadre and their efforts to connect with the masses.

The division of votes emerges as a critical factor in power politics, where regional parties, though not securing victories, can disrupt the fortunes of leading candidates and parties. Overconfidence becomes a potential pitfall, with multi-cornered contests making predictions challenging and turning winners into losers and vice versa.

In Punjab, the prospect of a complex multi-cornered contest looms large, influenced by the politics of alliances, potential divisions in votes, and differences among leaders within the same parties. The political landscape is dynamic, with shifting loyalties and power plays adding to the unpredictability of the outcome.

The recently inaugurated Vande Bharat Express, connecting Amritsar to Delhi, becomes a point of contention due to the exclusion of a stoppage at Jalandhar City. A comparison with the Shatabdi Express reveals disparities, raising concerns among the people of Malwa who may demand a stoppage for Vande Bharat Express at Sarhind/Rajpura. As the election fervor builds, political leaders seize every opportunity, including advocating for train stoppages, to appeal to the vote bank.

Authored by:
Rajat Kumar Mohindru,
Journalist, Jalandhar City.