BJP to face Pondy local elections alone

Pondicherry, Jun 5 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vice-president Venkiah Naidu today said his party would go alone in the ensuing Local Body elections in the Union Territory.

Adressing a press conference here, Mr Naidu said the review meeting on the recent Assembly elections, held with party functionaries, had advised party cadre not to lose confidence and work hard for the coming local elections.

He called upon party workers to increase grassroot activities.

Speaking on the controversial Office of Profit Bill, Mr Naidu urged the President to advise the Election Commission (EC) to take an early decisions on petitions pending before it on the issue.

He said the Congress and Left parties were adopting double standards on the issue.

Further delay by the EC in taking action on those who were holding offices of profit might lead to misunderstandings, he felt.

Mr Naidu said his party would oppose it tooth and nail if the UPA tried to bring the Office of Profit back again to the parliament.

He charged the Congress with blocking the removal of the Election Commissioner Navin Chawla even after 205 MPS supported it.

Mr Naidu said his party would organise country-wide agitations if the UPA government hiked the prices of petroleum products, that had already been increased five times.

He welcomed the re-naming of Pondicherry as 'Puducherry'.

UNI PAB AJ VJ PC1736