However, BJP president Rajnath Singh could not begin his rath yatra as per the schedule released by the party on Wednesday as the district administration denied permission to take out the yatra from Puri.

After invoking the blessings of Lord Jagannath at Puri, Rajnath Singh on Thursday began his 35-day, 5,500 km Bharat Suraksha Yatra with a pledge to foil the 'appeasement' of Muslims by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.

Image: Leader of Bharatiya Janata Party L K Advani waves from the roof of a bus as he poses with local BJP leaders including Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi in Rajkot, 280 km south-west of Ahmedabad, 06 April 2006, at the start of the Bharat Suraksha Yatra'.

Photograph: Strdel/AFP/Getty Images

Also See: Images: On the road again

Also Read: Complete coverage: BJP's Yatra

Should Advani go on the rath yatra?