rediff.com Assistant Managing Editor George Iype, who is travelling with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's Bharat Uday Yatra, answers readers' queries:
Jayesh Bhatt (Mumbai) and Nandesh Sawarkar (Nagpur)
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Who will pay for the entire cost of this yatra? Please give us details of per day cost? What is the total expense incurred?
George: The BJP will pay for the yatra. Other details are not available. Such details are not made public.
Rajeevan (Palghat)
What is the arrangement at Palakkad?
George: Hi, Rajeevan, Advani will address a public function in Palakkad on Thursday at 4pm. The function is at the central ground in the city.
Mohan Verma (from the Middle East), Anil Kumar (Nashik) and Rahul Mann (Bangalore)
What response is the yatra getting and how many people attended the inaugural function? Also, what is the message Advani is conveying?
George: Dear Mohan, Anil and Rahul, the response has not been very overwhelming. There were only some 3,000 BJP workers in Kanyakumari, from where Advani launched the yatra. On the way, in small towns, the BJP managed to bring hundreds of activists. The lukewarm response is because he is in the south. The crowds should pick up in the next five days.
Advani is conveying the feel-good factor and 'India Shining' messages. He is saying everywhere that India is going to become a superpower because of the BJP-led government.
G K Prasad (San Diego, California)
Will the yatra improve the NDA's electoral prospects?
George: I think so. The BJP is giving it maximum attention to ensure that the yatra makes an impact on the voters.
Naman Kumar (Delhi), Sandeep Ozarde (Mumbai), Satyam Thakar (Ahmedabad)
Why is Advani ignoring the northeast?
George: The BJP has not yet explained why Advani is not going to the northeast. Maybe a road journey to the northeast may not be advisable due to security reasons
Hari (Chennai)
As a Malayalee I want to know if the BJP will open its account in Kerala.
Pramod Nair (Mumbai)
As a journalist accompanying Advani, do you feel that the chance of BJP opening account through Rajettan (O Rajagopal) winning the TVM constituency is possible?
George: It not yet clear if the BJP will open its account in Kerala. But there is a bright chance this time for O Rajagopal from Trivandrum.
Uday (Mangalore)
In your opinion, who will become PM if NDA wins?"
George: Dear Uday, it will be Vajpayee. The whole poll campaign of the BJP/NDA is focused on Vajpayee as the next PM.