New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on August 3 disapproved of labour organisations of various parties drawing a line in their opposition to labour reforms and said there was an urgent need for a consensus on economic issues.

"When we can have consensus on matters like national security, why can't we have on matters of economy. Parties have to decide as to how far they should go in pursuit of party interest," Vajpayee said in his valedictory address to the day-long Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive meeting.

He regretted that frequent elections disturb whatever little consensus could be achieved in matters of economy and said this situation should change.

Vajpayee also accused parties of looking at things always from the angle of elections and trying to be populist. "They speak of economic reforms while in power and talk about even free electricity when in Opposition.

"The chief ministers when they come to Delhi agree on reforms but change their tune once they go back," he said.

PTI