Venkaiah Naidu dispell doubt on transfer of power

Bangalore, July 22 (UNI) Dispelling any doubts on the issue of transfer of power by Janata Dal (Secular) to Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka in October, BJP national Vice President Mr Venkaiah Naidu said today that it was a 'Solemn commitment made to the people of the state' on the backdrop of the mandate of the 2004 assembly elections.

Addressing State BJP Executive meeting here, he said that the understanding reached between JD(S) and BJP to form a coalition government was the result of the outcome of the 2004 assembly election, in which the ruling Congress party was rejected by the people.

Mr Naidu said that despite reverse in the assembly election the Congress was succeeded to stick to power for a brief period. However it was rectified with the understanding reached between BJP and JD(S) later.

Expressing confidence that BJP led government would assume power in the state on October Three, Mr Naidu said that 'It is natural and that will be done".

He said that party has a strong base in Karnataka, the only state in southern part of the country and called upon the party men to concentrate on taking the developmental initiatives ushered by the coalition government to the people.

Referring to presidential elections Mr Naidu flayed the third front and other political parties for boycotting the poll. "These parties has to give explanation to the people of the country in abstaining from the presidential elections and indirectly supporting Congress".

Charging that the Congress never tried to evolve a consensus on the candidate for the Presidential election with an intention to install its-own party worker as the country's next president. "The Congress has misused the article 356 of the Constitution for over 100 times and dislodged elected state governments in the past". The political parties which took decision not to participate in the president's poll indirectly helped Congress, Mr Naidu alleged.

" We might have lost the elections but party has fielded an eminent candidate to head the highest constitutional post, it will going to be an election plank in the next general election" Mr Naidu said.

Subtly criticising the JD(S) which also decided to stay away from the presidential elections, Mr Naidu said that it is surprising to keep BJP at equal distance from Congress. Referring to criticism targeted against BJP for lowering the standard of the campaign trail against UPA-Left parties sponsored candidate Mr Naidu refuted the charges has said that BJP never hurled allegations against Pratibha Patil. "The charges of corruption was leveled by a Congress worker in Maharashtra against UPA-Left sponsored candidate", Mr Naidu alleged.

UNI