Cong afraid of facing electorate: BJP

Kozhikode, Apr 9 (UNI) The Congress seems to be afraid of facing the electorate as its mass base has eroded considerably since the last general elections, BJP secretary Balbir K Punj claimed today.

Speaking to newspersons here, Mr Punj, incharge of party affairs in Kerala, claimed that this was evident from an abortive attempt made by that party to postpone the Karnataka Assembly elections, but the Election Commission was hesitant to accept their dictats.

However, he said, the BJP was well prepared for the general elections, expected to be held around April next.

Criticising the UPA Government at the Centre for its ''failure'' to contain rising inflation, Mr Punj said that as a result, the life of the commonman, already hit hard by the ''misrule'', had become miserable.

The Left parties, extending crucial outside support to the UPA Government, had also failed to take any tangible steps to contain skyrocketing prices of essential commodoties, he alleged.

Party Kerala Vice-President B Muraleedharan, who was also present, said the BJP would launch a series of agitations against price rise. This included a satyagraha before the state secretariat on April 11, followed by similar programmes before the district headqaurters on April 13.

Party Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani would address a public meeting on the concluding day of a two-week propaganda campaign in Thiruvananthapurm on April 27, he added.

UNI PCH GD SK RK1830