New Delhi:
The world's biggest election is turning out to be a gruelling exercise for India's top leaders who need to galvanise voters in every state. It is also a sign of their importance for the party. But who are India's most frequent flyers?
Vying for top spot are 81-year-old BJP leader LK Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the 39-year-old Rahul Gandhi.
Advani, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate has already covered about 110 rallies and there's still a week of campaigning to go. His targets are Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi as he refuses to acknowledge Rahul Gandhi as a rival.
"It is the first time since 2004 that 7, Race Course Road has lost all its significance. If there is one important address it is 10, Janpath, the residence of Sonia Gandhi. This does not happen anywhere else in the world, but only in India. Manmohan Singh is the weakest PM ever," he had said in one of his rallies.
But the frequent flyer miles show Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is now the party's star campaigner. He has clocked over 87,000 km, with 110 rallies in almost all states.
In all his rallies, Rahul's only message is - vote for Manmohan Singh as PM and not himself. But the positioning is clear. Rahul is now the main campaigner for the Congress, and future PM. All speeches mention how the Congress' trinity -- Manmohan, Sonia and Rahul -- will work for the poor.
"As long as there is poverty in this country, we -- the Congress party, Soniaji, Manmohan Singh and I -- will work for the poor," he said in one of his rallies.
Yet, the campaigning hierarchy is clear. His mother is estimated to have held around 75 rallies and the Prime Minister, recovering from a bypass, has just around 50 rallies and that too are confined mainly to urban towns.
The Congress is spending close to Rs 200 crore on Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's travel by aircraft and helicopters.
Another future prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, may have clocked less miles but more rallies. He has addressed 200 rallies so far and could cover close to 220 by the end of campaigning.
In terms of miles he has clocked a modest 68,000 km. But that could be due to his strategy, which is to hold many rallies on one day in the same state. He is also rallying heavily in his own state.
Though this time his mantra is development, his attacks remain on the Gandhi family.
"Manmohan Singh is their prime ministerial candidate, bur not even once has Arjun Singh said this; not even once has Pranab Mukherjee said this; not even once has any Congress minister said this. If anyone has said this, it is members of Sonia Gandhi's family. The SRP (Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka) are the ones saying this," he said in his rally.
But what about the one-woman party Mayawati whose party, the BSP, is contesting the most seats in this election, more than the Congress and the BJP.
Her aim is simple -- to be the Prime Minister this time around. So, till today, she's had 67 rallies across 18 states clocking 88,000 km by air.
"Today everybody wants to become the Prime Minister of the country. The Congress and BJP can make any Tom, Dick and Harry PM. But why can't a Dalit's educated daughter be Prime Minister?" she had said in one of her rallies.
So, with the month-long election process coming to an end the focus seems to be on a completely new line up of politicians.
While in 2004 when Atal Behari Vajpayee and Sonia Gandhi were the two big national campaigners, today there has been a complete shift. Though LK Advani is still the BJP's man in charge, but there are indications already who will replace him.
Rahul Gandhi is firmly in a position as the Congress' future leader and the real challenge from Mayawati, who will emerge the winner, will be clear only on May 16. But the real silver lining -- helicopter companies and chartered aircraft owners are laughing all the way to the bank.