Gadkari proposes periodic audit of BJP governments

NEW DELHI: At a time when the principal opposition party is targeting the Manmohan Singh government over corruption, BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday proposed a periodic audit in the backyard.

Gadkari made the suggestion while addressing a conclave of chief ministers of BJP-ruled states here. "The party president said there is need to undertake a periodic review of the BJP governments and party," party's chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

The BJP president made the remarks while unleashing an attack on the UPA government. He alleged that the government has misused "the official machinery" to target the BJP. Gadkari said two institutions of coordination between the Centre and the state- National Development Council (NDC) and Inter-state Council- have become defunct.

The BJP has been facing a counter-offensive on corruption allegations against its governments in Karnataka and Uttarakhand. However, Prasad was evasive on a query if the party would address these issues.

Inaugurating the conference, Gadkari said the icons of Hindutva should be kept in mind and the party should focus on their "positive aspects".

He reminded the party that the distinguishing feature of the party is "governance for change" and with the UPA's image "declining, the country is reverting to two-pole politics." Prasad quoted the party president as saying that after the assembly election results, "third front pioneers may turn out to be the fifth columnists of the UPA government."

The two-day conference is being attended by chief ministers Narendra Modi, BS Yeddyurappa, Ramesh Pokhriyal, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Raman Singh and Prem Kumar Dhumal. Deputy chief minister of Bihar Shushil Kumar Modi and senior ministers of Punjab are also present besides party leaders LK Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitely, Murli Manohar Joshi and Rajnath Singh.

Two important legislations passed by NDA-ruled Bihar and the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh-Loksewa Guarantee Scheme and Special courts scheme-will be discussed to consider their implementation in other BJP-ruled states as well.