From Rahul Gandhi to Mamata Banerjee: VIPs Ditch Convoys for Two-Wheelers

• Rahul Gandhi rode a KTM 390 Adventure bike 211 km from Leh to Pangong Lake in Ladakh, sharing his father Rajiv Gandhi's love for biking.
• Mamata Banerjee protested rising fuel prices by riding an electric scooter from Kalighat to Nabanna in Kolkata, garnering nationwide attention before Bengal elections.
• Nitin Gadkari rode a Vespa scooter to RSS headquarters in Nagpur in 2014, sparking controversy for not wearing a helmet, but is known for his simple 'Nagpuria' style.
• Smriti Irani led a scooter rally in Howrah's Panchla during the West Bengal assembly election campaign, a political response to Mamata Banerjee's earlier ride.
• Manohar Lal Khattar rode a Royal Enfield Bullet in Karnal for 'Car-Free Day,' promoting environmental protection and earning appreciation for his simple social message.

Why It Matters: Several prominent Indian politicians have embraced two-wheelers for personal connection, protest, or political messaging.