Date:13/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/13/stories/2006021309270400.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Report on poll debacle can wait, says Venkaiah

Staff Reporter

He says the party will concentrate on Assembly election

BRACING FOR POLLS: Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president Venkaiah Naidu arriving in Alappuzha on Sunday for a State-level meeting of the party. — Photo: Johney Thomas

ALAPPUZHA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to put the Mohan Sankar committee report on the party's debacle in the Thiruvananthapuram by-election in cold storage for the time being and to concentrate on the coming Assembly election.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the BJP State committee meeting here on Sunday, party leader Venkaiah Naidu said the report was not a serious topic for discussion for the party and added that there was no use in raking up old issues.

"The BJP will set aside contentious inner party issues for the time being and embark on campaigns with a view to gaining entry into the State Assembly," Mr. Naidu said. He asserted that there was no problem in the party State unit at present and those existed had been sorted out.

Mr. Naidu said the party planned to take on both the LDF and the UDF in the Assembly polls and keep an equidistant policy with both the fronts. He said that the party was not concerned about the impact of such a policy on the winning prospects of the fronts.

"We want to enter the State Assembly and will ensure that. We will consider adjustments with like-minded nationalist parties if they approached us," Mr. Naidu said.

On the possibility of the BJP entering into seat adjustments with the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran), Mr. Naidu said the BJP would not approach the DIC(K) for alliance. On the possibility of the DIC(K) approaching the BJP for alliance, Mr. Naidu said the party would take a suitable decision if such a thing happened.

On reservation

He said the BJP was against job reservation on the basis of religion.

He said the party would make job reservation for Muslims now in existence in the State an issue in the Assembly election.