Date:14/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/14/stories/2006051406640800.htm

National

BJP organisational polls later this year

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party's organisational elections will start later this year and end by November when a new president will be elected.

Party president Rajnath Singh announced this on Saturday.

The ongoing membership drive would end on June 30 and after that preparations would be made for the organisational elections, he said.

Mr. Singh parried a question on whether he would be elected in November or the party would see a new chief.

Party sources, however, indicated that Mr. Singh is expected to be elected for a three-year term in November. His current tenure will complete the term started by Venkaiah Naidu and L.K. Advani.

On May 18, the Kisan Morcha of the party would hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar to protest against wheat imports from Australia. ``While Indian farmers are selling their wheat for Rs. 6.50 to Rs. 7 a kg, the government is buying Australian wheat for Rs. 10 a kg,'' Mr. Singh said.

From June 1, the party's women's wing would organise a signature campaign to protest against inflation.