New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Reiterating the party's stand on L.K. Advani's anti-corruption 'yatra', Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Thursday said the around-the-country tour was not meant to project him as party's prime ministerial candidate.


"This 'yatra' is not for the prime minister's post, it is to awaken the country," Gadkari said, making his first public appearance in Delhi since he underwent a surgery for weight reduction Sep 12.

The BJP president, who had earlier announced that the party will not project any candidate for prime minister's post, said the 'yatra' was aimed at spreading good governance and fighting corruption.

“This is to create a corruption-free India, to promote good governance. It is to carry forward the awakening that has been brought about by non-political protests,” he said.

Advani's 'yatra' will commence Oct 11 from Sitabdiara village of Bihar's Saran district, the birth place of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP.

The day is the birth anniversary of JP, the propagator of 'Sampoorna Kranti' and students movement of 1974, which led to the emergency and later the defeat of the Congress government of Indira Gandhi.

The 'yatra' will cover 18 states and two union territories. Advani, who is an MP from Gandhinagar, is likely to spend three days in Gujarat. Sources, however, say Somnath, the starting points of Advani's 'rath yatra' in 1990 for Ram temple, is missing from the route map this time.

Starting from Bihar, the 'yatra' will first cover the eastern states, followed by southern and western states. The last lap of the 'yatra' will cover northern India, culminating Nov 20 in Delhi with a rally. The BJP leader is also likely to spend a day in the northeast, where he is likely to fly in.

Advani will also fly to Jammu and Kashmir for a day and also visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. All four southern states are also likely to be covered.

Gadkari also denied differences with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the 'yatra'.