MP: Eye on 2019, Shivraj to begin ‘Aabhar Yatra’ next week

BHOPAL: Despite losing in a nail-biting finish in the assembly elections, Shivraj Singh Chouhan clearly has his eyes on 2019. He is embarking upon ‘Aabhar Yatra’ to thank the electorate for “giving him the chance to serve the state for 15 years”

Congress will keep a close eye on his 'yatra', as Chouhan has vowed BJP will win all 29 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 in the state. Going by assembly results, however, BJP looks to be on shaky ground in at least 14 Lok Sabha seats. But Chouhan is banking on the fact that BJP is still ahead of Congress vote share, albeit by a whisker.

“We have 41.02% votes against Congress’s 40.89% though we fell short of the magic number. The party is thankful to voters and Shivraj Singh will take out 'Aabhar Yatra' in all 52 districts to express his feelings. A detailed programme regarding the yatra is yet to be decided,” said BJP state spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal.

Party leaders told TOI that the former CM wants to begin the yatra by next week. It coincides with the election process as both BJP and Congress will get only 90 days till model code of conduct comes into effect for the Lok Sabha election. Learning from the mistake committed during the assembly elections, the party can now work towards retaining the maximum seats in Lok Sabha elections, said sources.

Chouhan’s yatra also holds significance as the party wants to keep the momentum going and party workers’ morale high, considering the tough fight he put up despite a three-term anti-incumbency.

The former CM has been in 'yatra' mode for the better part of the year. In preparation for the election, Chouhan began his four-month-long 'Jai Ashirwad Yatra' in Ujjain on July 14 and covered 187 assembly segments. It was preceded by 'Vikas Yatra', 'Kisan Samman Yatra' and 'Janadesh Yatra' and he is already planning the next one.