from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Apr 23: Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) rath yatra paying homage to its departed leader Pramod Mahajan on his first death anniversy took off in Goa.

The yatra, which will traverse through length and breadth of Goa, began at Gaodongri in Goa's remotest Canacona taluka. Mahajan was BJP's Goa desk incharge and handled party organization of this coastal state till he breathed his last.

"The tour will culminate at Panaji on May 3, the first death anniversery of our beloved leader late Pramodji," BJP's Goa yuva morcha president Ashish Shirodkar, stated.

BJP's national yuva morcha president Amit Thakker flagged off the yatra in the presence of state BJP leaders.

"Goa has a great respect for Pramodji, who was instrumental in getting BJP in power for the first in Goa, before 2002 elections," Shirodkar stated.

"Pramodji was the leader of youths. He always aspired for unemployment eradication in the state. The yatra will also highlight BJP's plans to weed out unemployment," he said.