'BJP not averse to a broader democratic front'

By Our Special Correspondent

KOCHI, JULY 10. The BJP is not averse to the idea of a broader democratic front to `liberate the State from the misrule of the Marxists', according to its State president, Mr. C. K. Padmanabhan.

Briefing reporters about the political resolutions adopted at the two-day State committee meeting here today, Mr. Padmanabhan said that the State had to learn a lesson or two from the West Bengal developments where the Trinamul Congress nominee had become the Mayor of Calcutta with BJP support.

He said that the State committee meeting had discussed the issue of integrating the democratic forces in the State and there was a general consensus on the issue. Asked whether the Congress(I) would be roped in for fighting the CPI(M), the BJP president said that exchange of ideas with like minded political parties and forces was going on and it was too early to say whether these would result in any electoral pact in the State.

To another query, he said that the National Democratic Alliance in the State was `weak' and the State needed a broader democratic front consisting of parties which imbibed the spirit of the NDA. He neither denied nor affirmed a query regarding whether the BJP had carried out talks with the Congress-I or the Kerala Congress (M) in the State. He also said that it was not for the BJP to create a Ms. Mamata Banerjee from the Congress-I to form an alliance.

To persistent queries about the negotiations with other political parties, Mr. Padmanabhan said that it would not be possible to reveal at this juncture as to which parties the BJP was holding confabulations. "It is a healthy exchange of ideas " was his cryptic comment.

The State committee meeting decided to strengthen the agitation against the Plus Two irregularities and on July 17, a secretariat march would be held. The same day, a march to the SP office at Pathanamthitta to protest against the role of prosecution on the Parumala case would also be held. On August 16, a `liberation march' from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram would be taken out. On August 9, in all panchayats, pledges would be taken to oust the Nayanar Government. On August 28, collectorate marches would be taken out.

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Section  : Southern States
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