Date:26/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/26/stories/2003062602550400.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

BJP to appoint poll assistants

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD JUNE 25. The Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive member, P. Venugopal Reddy, on Wednesday said the party would launch the process of appointing `Chunav Sahayaks' (election assistants) for the next Lok Sabha elections.

The assistants would be appointed on full time basis to monitor and guide the party in the elections in each Assembly segment and Lok Sabha constituency. The party would prefer an experienced person with sound knowledge of the election process to work as assistants, Mr. Venugopal Reddy, told reporters here.

He said the party had directed him and another leader to take up the process of appointment of `sahayaks' in all constituencies. Mr. Reddy said he had been asked to supervise this process in 19 States while the rest would be covered by another North-based leader under the supervision of senior BJP leader Bal Apte. The party would launch the process of appointment of `Sahayaks' from August 15. The idea was to gear up the party for the coming elections.

The BJP leader maintained that the party was approaching the next general elections with a goal to achieve 300 seats. The party had taken the stand to highlight the development works undertaken by the NDA during the last five years and compare the same with the Congress rule earlier. He hoped that the party would fare even better in the next elections.

On the remarks made by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad president, Ashok Singhal, that the VHP preferred the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, to the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, he said would not agree with the statement. Stating that the BJP needed the services of both the leaders, Mr. Venugopal Reddy asserted that the two leaders would guide the party in the next elections jointly.

On the demand by another VHP leader, Praveen Togadia, for creation of a new Hindu party, Mr. Venugopal Reddy, said it was his personal opinion. In democracy, every individual had the right to form a political party. He said such statements would not create confusion among the cadre. When pointed out that the statements emanating from the VHP were strong, the BJP leader said the issues raised could be settled amicably.

To a question on People's War naxalites targeting BJP leaders, Mr. Venugopal Reddy gave a rather surprising statement stating both the organisations were fighting for the just rights of the downtrodden people. "The goal of the two organisations is the same but the way it being practised is different,'' he claimed. He said the PW wanted to adopt the armed struggle as its way of achieving freedom for the poorest of the poor and the suppressed people.

He exuded confidence that the new State president would be elected soon. He said the process was delayed because elections were not held for five district units. Once these elections are completed by July 15, the party would request the BJP central office to make arrangements for conduct of elections. On the Paragodu controversy, Mr. Venugopal Reddy gave guarded reply but said that every State had the right to protect its interest but not at the cost of affecting others. He said the issue could be solved if the two Government sat together and resolved the dispute.

The BJP district President, Y. Laxminarayana, the Zonal Beedi Workers Advisory Committee member, Damodar, the BJP zonal in charge, Pradeep, Nehru Yuva Kendra State coordinator, Aljapur Srinivas, the Bharatiya Janata Kisan Morcha general secretary, Baddam Linga Reddy, and the BJYM secretary, Muralidhar Goud, and the Municipal chairperson, Bharati Rani, were present.