Press Statement issued by Shri L.K. Advani

Leader of the Opposition (Lok Sabha)
In Shahadol (Madhya Pradesh) on April 25, 2006

After a two-day break to participate in my Party's election campaign in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, I resume my Bharat Suraksha Yatra from Shahadol in Madhya Pradesh. I welcome the measures the Election Commission has so far taken in West Bengal to ensure that the CPI(M) is prevented from indulging in its well-honed art of electoral malpractices. For the first time in 30 years, the people are able to cast their votes in relatively freer and fairer elections. I addressed three meetings in the state to canvas support for the candidates of the BJP, which is contesting the elections in alliance with the Trinamool Congress. The response was heartening, an indication of the people's keen desire to end the Left Front's 30-year misrule.

In Tamil Nadu, I addressed two well-attended election meetings. The BJP has no alliance with either of the two major parties in the state. Our twin objectives in the state are: firstly, to gain enough strength in the state assembly for the BJP to serve as an independent, effective and constructive voice of the opposition; and, secondly, to see that the Congress is marginalized in the state and weakened at the Centre.

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