Date:20/02/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/02/20/stories/2004022007861100.htm

National

BJP promises RS seat to Thirunavukkarasar

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 19. The Bharatiya Janata Party president, Venkaiah Naidu, today promised to give a Rajya Sabha seat to the Minister of State for Communications, Thirunavukkarasar, at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Naidu made this announcement at a party function here this morning where former cine-star Hema Malini was given membership of the party.

The BJP failed to get the Pudukottai seat — represented by Mr. Thirunavukkarasar in the dissolved Lok Sabha — allotted to it in the seat-sharing arrangement with the AIADMK.

The BJP has announced its intention to make amends by inducting him into the Rajya Sabha.