Upbeat BJP sets its eyes on Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 1 (UNI) After its victory in Karnataka, the BJP today reiterated its commitment to Hindutva and projected itself as the frontrunner to capture power at the Centre saying the days were not far off when NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani will address the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort.

Virtually sounding the bugle for wresting power at the Centre, BJP president Rajnath Singh called upon the party's rank and file to be prepared to face 2009 Lok Sabha elections and the coming polls in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and ensure the party's victory.

''Our winning streak in the last two years in Punjab, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and now in Karnataka will not halt. I am confident that in the November 2008 elections, with the support of people, we will hoist the flag of victory in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chhattisgarh and thereafter in the elections (Lok Sabha) that will take place in March-April 2009,'' he said in his presidential remark at the party's two-day National Executive, which commenced here this morning amidst tight security.

While asserting that the BJP had now emerged as natural political alternative at the Centre having governments in at least 11 states either on its own or with its allies, he said the party's victory in Karnataka had belied the Congress' claim of being the biggest party in the country. The areas where the party was in power represent more than 200 Lok Sabha seats, giving a clear edge to BJP over other parties, he said.

Reiterating the BJP's commitment to Hindutva ideology and its stand on cultural nationalism while demanding scrapping of Article 370 and implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in the country, the BJP president said the party was committed to preserving national unity and believed in true sense of secularism.

Pointing at those who were exploiting the word secularism to further their political ends, he demanded a ban on the use of term 'Dharam-Nirpeksh' (religion-neutral), asserting there is a difference between 'Dharam-Nirpeksh' and 'Panth-Nirpeksh' (sect-neutral).

Emphasising the need to work for expansion of the party's base and asking the workers to reach out to every nook and corner of the country to establish first-hand rapport with the electorate, Mr Singh also asked them to concentrate more on the vote of the youth which always played a pivotal role to bring about any change in the country.

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