BJP wants EC to hold public meetings

HATHRAS/ETAH: A day after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's second crowd-pulling roadshow in Uttar Pradesh, Opposition BJP today suggested the Election Commission
organise common public meetings of political parties campaigning for elections.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani told public meetings at Hathras and Etah that he would too participate in such events should Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul join in for a face-to-face talk before voters.

"I suggest the Election Commission organise all-party meetings. Such a move will strengthen democracy. Let there be Kalyan Singh on the one side and Mulayam Singh Yadav or Mayawati on the other. Let Sonia Gandhi, her son turn up.

I'll be there if Sonia Gandhi participates," he said.

His comments came a day after the Amethi MP crisscrossed the state's Lalitpur district as part of the Congress campaign for the assembly elections.

The Congress is banking on Rahul's road shows in its efforts to win power in the state.

"The Congress in not worried about 2007. It is worried about 2009 (when the next Lok Sabha elections are due)," Advani, who made no direct reference to Rahul's road shows, said.