2019 polls: BJP set to evoke Vajpayee's memories

The BJP is all set to evoke memories of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Uttar Pradesh in a run up to 2019 Lok Sabha polls by undertaking 'asthi kalash yatra' (carrying Vajpayee's ash) across the state before immersing it in different rivers.

According to the UP BJP leaders here a roadmap has been prepared for this purpose. ''We plan to undertake the 'yatra' in all the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state,'' said a senior saffron party leader while speaking to Deccan Herald here on Saturday.

He said that Vajpayee was very closely attached with UP. ''He was first elected to Lok Sabha from Balrampur....his ancestral village is in the state....he studied at Kanpur and represented Lucknow four times in Lok Sabha,'' the leader added.

The leader said that the party planned to ''get the common people associated'' with the 'yatra'. ''The 'yatra' will also give an opportunity to the common people to pay respect to the departed soul,'' he remarked.

The state government had already declared to construct memorials after Vajpayee at Balrampur, Lucknow, Kanpur and Bateshwar (Vajpayee's ancestral village).

BJP sources said that the party had also planned a number of condolence meetings across the state to pay tribute to the departed leader. ''Senior party leaders will take part in these meetings,'' said another leader.

Vajpayee's ashes would be immersed in almost all the rivers-small and big in the state.

BJP had earlier planned to undertake 'Gaurav Yatra' in the state in which the party leaders were to showcase the achievements of the centre during the past four years. ''The format of the yatra has been changed after Vajpayee's demise,'' the leader added.