BJP eyeing other southern states after K'taka victory

Chennai, May 27 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today attributed the party's victory in Karnataka polls to 30 years of hard work and said its next step was to work hard to open an account in other southern states.

Talking to newspersons at the airport here, he said ''our 30 years of hard work and dream have come true by this victory.'' ''The BJP had so far been seen as a North Indian party. Now, everyone can say that the BJP is an all-India party,'' he added.

Mr Naidu said his party's victory in Karnataka was also a ''curtain raiser'' for the next Lok Sabha elections.

''It should not be treated as a local victory as this is something that will help to keep the party work together and improve our performance for the upcoming general elections,'' he said.

''Our next aim is to strengthen our party position in other southern states and our cadres are prepared for that,'' he said.

To a question on Hogenakkal drinking water project, he said ''we will try to resolve the issue once the BJP come to power.'' ''The Hogenakkal issue is not a big one like that of Cauvery, which is taking years together to get resolved,'' he said, adding ''the issue would be settled amicably.'' UNI XR-SNR RL US1919