Priyanka Vadra's rath story gets intriguing

The story of 'Priyanka Vadra's rath yatra' is turning out to be an intriguing one.

After planting stories in the media that the daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi is all set to travel across Uttar Pradesh in an air-conditioned bus, modified to look like a rath (chariot), the man behind it all says she might not use it.

Also Read After Advani, is it now Priyanka's turn? Congress confused over Priyanka yatra

The vehicle is the brainchild of Akhilesh Dass, son of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Banarsi Dass Gupta. It comes from the same dealer in Lalroo - 30km from Chandigarh - who provided the rath for Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's Bharat Uday Yatra.

Dass spent Rs 40lakh on modifying it and installing almost the same features and facilities as Advani's rath.

"It has an elevator to take you to the top of the bus, a direct-to-home dish antenna for round-the-clock access to television channels, fax, DVD, an attached toilet and microphones fitted with loudspeakers," he said.

It is parked in his residence in Delhi.

He had not consulted the party leadership before coming up with the idea of a rath.

"I am not sure if Priyanka Vadra would ride this rath. I am trying my best to get her to use it to campaign in Uttar Pradesh. If she does not, some prominent Congress leaders would certainly use it during the general election to make the rounds of various constituencies," he told rediff.com on Wednesday.

Congress general secretary Oscar Fernandes said that he had seen stories about the rath only in newspapers and television channels. "I am not sure if Priyanka would use it," he said.