UPA shying from Lok Sabha polls: Venkaiah Naidu

Indore, Jun 24: Former BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday, June 24 claimed that the UPA Government has come into minority but is shying away from elections. ''The BSP has withdrawn support from the Centre and the UPA Government has come into minority. Still, it is shying away from elections,'' said Mr Naidu, while talking to reporters here.

He said the BJP was always prepared to go to the hustings although it was not in haste. Observing that the Centre was facing an awkward situation with regards to inflation and the Indo-US nuclear pact, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lost his self-confidence and alliance partners do not trust each other. Referring to the Centre's defense that global prices were rising, the BJP leader pointed out that inflation rate was between 3-4 per cent in countries like Malaysia, Italy and France. However, new records were being made in the country.

He said the Centre was following minority appeasement policies for signing the nuclear pact. The Centre feared that Muslims would be angry if it signed the pact with the US. The Centre was keeping its political benefit in mind and not that of the country.

Mr Naidu said the central election committee of the party was going to meet in New Delhi on Thursday, June 26 to decide about selection procedure of candidates.

Five points have been decided for preparing for elections. These include selection of the leader, selection of candidates, poll preparations, presenting poll manifesto and election campaigning.

He said the party had achieved success by implementing this formula in Gujarat and Karnataka. Hence, the formula would be continued.

UNI