This hi-tech rath is catching everyone's attention

Lakshmi Hebbalkar, the president of Women’s Wing of Karnataka Congress and one of the most powerful leaders of the party in the state, has caught everyone’s attention after she has made a customised vehicle exclusively for election purposes. Lakshmi is contesting from Belagavi Rural Constituency.

Lakshmi has modified an Isuzu multi-purpose vehicle with party symbols and pictures of top Congress leaders. Of the 18 constituencies in Belagavi district, this is probably the first time that such a vehicle is being used for campaigning. Generally, during election time, leaders prefer padayatras and door-to-door visits. It was only recently that another leader from Belagavi district, MLA Satish Jarkiholi, who is contesting from Yemkanmardi constituency, purchased a helicopter before the elections were declared.

The campaign vehicle of Lakshmi has been called a ‘Congress Prachar Rath’. It has two speakers, wireless mike, generator and lights. The five-seater vehicle can accommodate 6-8 people. While the Congress party symbol is seen on all four sides, it also has pictures of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Energy Minister DK Shivakumar and Lakshmi Hebbalkar. It has lines written in Kannada and Marathi, asking people to turn up to vote on May 12.


Hebbalkar is expected to start campaigning aggressively from April 20 and the vehicle will be used for campaigning across the district. Recently, officers on poll duty seized a truck full of pressure cookers with pictures of Lakshmi Hebbalkar in Belagavi. JD(S), which was the first to announce its first list of candidates, had announced LED campaign vehicles for each constituency and it is learnt that these vehicles have been taken on rent.

The BJP also got a high-tech bus designed for its Parivarthana Yatra. Similarly, the Congress too used a bus for its Janaashirwada Yatra.