BJP president Amit Shah to join Vikash Yatra in Chhattisgarh today

RAIPUR: BJP president Amit Shah will visit Chhattisgarh's Ambikapur district on Sunday to attend the ongoing 'Vikash Yatra' of the State Government. He will later attend the State Core Group meeting where, according to the party sources, will review the party's preparation after he had given the State leadership a target of 65 seats for the Assembly polls due later this year.

There will also be vigorous evaluation on the implementation of various schemes of the Centre in the State during the Shah's visit. "After Karnataka, our party chief has shifted his focus on three major States, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, where BJP is in power for the last three terms. He might seek feedback from the State party leaders on the tasks assigned by him during his last visit," a senior BJP leader told TNIE.

The Opposition Congress, however, criticised the ruling party for turning the Government event of 'Vikash Yatra' into a mega BJP show. "The BJP is hijacking a State Government's occasion into their political campaign in an election year. How could the BJP's flag be allowed in a Government programme, even if Amit Shah been invited? It's the gross misuse of public money", the Congress media cell chairman Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said. The BJP retorted, "When the party's president is visiting, the responsibility lies with party cadres and leaders to welcome him. There is nothing wrong in it. During the event, there will not be any BJP flag fluttering".

Shah will also participate in a road show along with Chief Minister Raman Singh and he is also scheduled to address a public rally. The entire Raman Cabinet, BJP president and senior party leaders will be at Ambikapur. The first phase of Yatra will culminate on June 14 at Bhilai in Durg where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join.