08-30-2008, 07:58 AM
Four important political parties to join NDA: Naqvi
Bangalore (PTI): Three to four important political parties in the country are expected to come into the NDA fold ahead of Lok Sabha polls, a senior BJP leader said on Friday. "NDA is discussing with important political parties to strike a pre-poll alliance for the coming Lok Sabha elections. We are confident that three to four parties will come into its fold", BJP Vice-President Mukthar Abbas Naqvi told a press conference here.
He refused to name the political outfits with which NDA is in talks while responding to a query whether the new political party "Praja Rajyam" launched recently in Andhra Pradesh by film star Chiranjeevi would join NDA.
Naqvi, who is here to assist his party's Karnataka unit in making preparations for the upcoming three-day National Executive to be held from September 12, ruled out BJP withdrawing support to BJD government in Orissa in the wake of sectarian violence.
"We are concerned over the developments in Orissa. But BJD is one of our important allies. The on-going trouble will not affect BJP-BJD relations. We will not withdraw support to the government", he said. The BJP Central Election Committee is meeting in Delhi on September two and expected to finalise at least 300 candidates for the next year's Lok Sabha polls, he said.
About 200 members are attending the National Executive and its senior leader L K Advani would address a Sankalp Yatra in the city on September 13, Naqvi said.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002...291650.htm