BJP flexes muscles ahead of Assembly polls in six states

Bangalore, Sep 11 (UNI) A three-day BJP National Executive, commencing here tomorrow, will see the saffron party flex its muscles ahead of the Assembly polls in six states and the next Lok Sabha elections on the heels after storming to power for the first time in South of the Vindhyas.

The executive is seen as a multi-pronged effort to repeat the party's success like in Gujarat, where it is ruling and will seek to wrest the control at the Centre in the coming Lok Sabha hustings. It will also make attempt to wrest power in Delhi Assembly, where it is in Opposition.

The party will focus on the 'all round' failure of the UPA regime at the Centre and deplore the government on issues like price rise, double digit inflation, compromise on national security in dealing with Indo-US nuclear deal, terrorists striking at will in several parts of the country.

The Executive, with an expected attendence of over 200 delegates, Office-Bearers, party MPs, will review the party's poll preparedness in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, where the party is hoping to return to power after completing five years in office. It also seeks to wrest power in Delhi and make inroads in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and Mizoram, where elections are due this year.

The party has already taken stock of the poll prospects in several states for facing the Lok Sabha polls by holding consultations with the leadership in the states in view of the elections to be held under the new delimitation of the constituencies.

The party proposes to finalise its alliance strategy in Haryana and Assam, where it may allow regional parties to lead the alliance, while in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, it has decided to face the Lok Sabha elections on its own.

The party has got a head start by projecting Leader of the Opposition L K Advani as NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate to face the Lok Sabha polls. He will also be the star participant in the meeting. The party's nuances towards the Indo-US nuclear deal, particularly after India secured the approval of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), will be carefully watched even as the party has sought the government to clarify the compromises made at the alter of the NSG ahead of the clearance.

Mr Advani will also address the 'Vijay Sankalp' rally, as the first ever BJP government of B S Yeddyurappa completed its 100 days in office although it missed the majority by a whisker.

The government, however, has the support of all Independent MLAs. It has also roped in the support of seven more MLAs, including four from Janata Dal (Secular) and three of Congress party in an exercise described as 'Operation Lotus'. These MLAs had resigned their seats and will have to face by-elections in less than six months.

He will also address such rallies in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, BJP Vice President Mukhatar Abbas Naqvi said.

BJP President Rajnath Singh will spell out the party's future tasks in his opening remarks tomorrow. The meeting will wind up with the 'Margadarshan', the concluding remarks by Mr Advani. The participation of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is doubtful, because of his poor health.

There will be a detailed discussion on the economic situation, foreign relations, especially concerning the neighbouring countries.

Unprovoked firing on Indian forces from Pakistan side, unabated infiltration from Bangladesh, devastating floods in Bihar caused by the Kosi river, which originates in Nepal, sources said.

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