BJP National Executive begins in Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 12 (UNI) The National Executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party aimed at taking stock of the party's poll preparedness ahead of Assembly polls in six states and the next Lok Sabha elections began here today nearly 100 days after the party stormed to power in Karnataka for the first time in South of the Vindhyas.

The meeting attended by nearly 200 delegates began the session with the address of BJP president Rajnath Singh with cream of the party, including Leader of the Opposition L K Advani, BJP's projected Prime Ministerial candidate in the coming Lok Sabha elections. The specially erected podium was named after Jan Sangh veteran Jagannath Rao Joshi to honour the services of the veteran from Karnataka right from Jan Sangh days.

The party will discuss a range of issues in seven sessions for the three days. A Vijay Sankalp rally will be addressed by Mr Advani at the National College grounds.

While the party was seeking to contest nearly 350 seats in the next Lok Sabha elections leaving the rest to the allies particularly in the states of Bihar, Maharashtra, Punjab, Orissa, Haryana and Assam where it had decided to opt for a regional partner in the NDA.

Although the party was confident that it would be able to secure a majority on its own strength having projected Mr Advani as its PM candidate, the BJP has not foreclosed the options for a post poll alliance if it is unable to rope in the like minded parties for a pre-poll tie up.

The party will seek to repeat Gujarat's success in overcoming anti-incumbency factor in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh while attempting to wrest power from Congress in Delhi assembly polls. After successful agitations seeking land allotment for Amarnath Shrine Board from Jammu and Kashmir government, the party was hopeful of making serious inroads in Jammu region while exploring space for mainstream political parties in the Srinagar valley. Mizoram is one state which will be facing assembly polls in North-East.

All roads leading to the venue in Residence Road have been bedecked with BJP flags and floral decorations to welcome the delegates. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa inspected the arrangements at the venue of the Executive and the media Centre in an adjoining hotel.

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