BJP watching political development: Venkaiah

Coimbatore, Jun 21 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was keenly watching the political developments both at National level and in Tamil Nadu, party senior leader and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu said today.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the BJP was studying the political scenario at the Centre and in Tamil Nadu, where the PMK, an ally of the ruling DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) was recently ousted.

The BJP was gearing up to face the Lok Sabha elections as the Congress-led UPA government is likely to fall due to its failure in all aspects, including economy, agriculture, foreign policy and national security.

Stating that the UPA government had 'bungled' on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, he said there was no unity and clarity in the UPA on any issue as the coalition partners were fighting among themselves.

The Left parties are equally to be blamed as they were supporting the 'anti-poor and anti-farmer' policies of the UPA, he said, adding that the Communists cannot wash off their hands by simply criticising the government every now and then.

Claiming that the people were fed up with the UPA and wanted early elections, Mr Naidu said his party expected the elections to be held during December or by January next.

Pointing out to the Centre's argument that rising inflation was a global phenomenon due to increase in crude oil price in the international markets as 'half truth,' the BJP leader said European countries were not oil producing nations but still they managed to check the inflation under control.

While the inflation in India, has soared to an all time high of 11.5 per cent, the inflation in Japan is 0.8 per cent, Italy 3.6 per cent, France, Britain and Malaysia 3 per cent each and Canada 1.7 per cent, he said and asked why the Union Government had failed to check it when these countries were able to contain inflation.

He said the UPA government has no clarity and unity. ''The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. The situation has become like 'right proposes, left opposes and the mind disposes'.'' Asked if the BJP had started preparing for the Lok Sabha election, he said his party would follow the same five-point programme that was adopted in Karnataka election, 'declaring the leader before polls, announing the name of candidate in advance, start preparing for election, presenting manifesto in advance and start early campaign.' UNI KS ROY GT HS1835