Jaipur, Sep 9 (IANS): Rajasthan Chief Minister, Bhajanlal Sharma, held a roadshow in Jaipur on Wednesday, on the final day of campaigning for the second phase of Rajasthan’s civic body elections.
The roadshow began around noon after the Chief Minister visited the Hanuman Temple at Sanganeri Gate. Travelling in an open jeep, Sharma was accompanied by BJP national general secretary and Rajasthan civic body election in-charge Harish Dwivedi, state president Madan Rathore, Jaipur MP Manju Sharma and MLA Balmukund Acharya.
The roadshow started from Sanganeri Gate and proceeded through Johari Bazar and Badi Chaupar before concluding at Tripolia Gate. For the event, the movement of general vehicles and city buses was restricted in several major markets of the walled city. Residents, shopkeepers and commuters were advised to use alternative routes. The Jaipur roadshow marked the culmination of Bhajanlal Sharma’s intensive civic election campaign.
With Wednesday’s event, Sharma has conducted 10 roadshows across Rajasthan in the past five days. The BJP has stepped up its campaign in the final phase of the civic elections, with senior leaders participating in rallies and roadshows to mobilise voters.
Addressing supporters during the campaign, Sharma claimed that his government had eliminated the problem of ‘Love Jihad’ across Rajasthan, including Jaipur.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the work undertaken by his government over the past two-and-a-half years. He alleged that the achievements had caused concern within the Congress and accused the previous government of pursuing a politics of “plunder and unchecked licence.”
Sharma further alleged that officials and ministers associated with the previous government were now in jail.
Bhajanlal Sharma also urged voters to support the BJP in local body and panchayat elections, saying this would create a “triple-engine” government and accelerate development.
He appealed to voters to add a third engine to the existing “double-engine” model of governance, promising that his government would undertake development works proposed by elected representatives and BJP workers.
BJP leader Raghunath Naredi was seen managing arrangements on the Chief Minister’s roadshow vehicle from the morning. Naredi had been considered a strong contender for the mayoral post before the civic election tickets were announced, but the BJP did not nominate him. His active role in managing the Chief Minister’s roadshow has therefore attracted political attention.
Before the roadshow, the Chief Minister was scheduled to visit the Purv-Mukhi Hanuman Mandir and meet office-bearers of Jaipur’s trade associations. Jaipur Trade Federation president Subhash Goyal, general secretary Suresh Saini, the senior vice president and other office-bearers were present at the temple for the meeting.
The roadshow route through the walled city was decorated with balloons, BJP flags and posters featuring Sharma, state president Madan Rathore and Deputy Chief Ministers Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa.
The roadshow, which covered roughly one kilometre, concluded at Tripolia Gate, where reception stages had been arranged for representatives of various trade associations to welcome the Chief Minister.
With the Jaipur roadshow, campaigning for the second phase of Rajasthan’s civic body elections has come to an end.
The BJP and Congress have intensified their final appeals to voters, with senior leaders focussing on local development, governance and political performance.
