Hoshiarpur (Punjab): BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) president M Venkaiah Naidu today (Feb 21, 2004) said that Congress party's graph over the past few years was constantly declining and under its present leadership the party's strength would be reduced to a two digit figure by the end of Lok Sabha polls.

Indicating that some people may be leaving the Congress in the coming days, he however did not disclose any names.

Naidu was to kick-start his party's poll campaign in Punjab said that from year 1996 onwards the Congress' graph had plunged.

"The present leadership of Congress is not enough to make it victorious," he said and termed Congress as a party of "nirash and hataash" (upset and desperate). Claiming that BJP and allies will comfortably achieve the two-thirds majority in the polls, he said had it not been for the NDA, Congressmen in States like Punjab and Kerala would have left the party (owing to dissidence).

"Thanks to the NDA, the new law that says if you change your party you have to forego your seat, is what has saved them (Cong)," Naidu added.

Lashing out at Congress for having double standards over the advertisements, he said some ads highlighting the State Government's achievements carry Congress president Sonia Gandhi's picture and mentioning her as leader of the Opposition even when Lok Sabha had been dissolved.

About the seat sharing issue with its ally in Punjab Shiromani Akali Dal, he said, "Seat sharing will be smooth, there will be no problem. We will sit together and decide."

Naidu evaded a direct reply when asked if BJP would be given more seats this time. The State BJP had been demanding at least five seats from its present share of three.

He said that his party would decide on winnability and credibility of candidates while allotting tickets.

Asked if BJP was banking on film stars to boost its image, he said, "We were not banking on them. Some of them had joined us in the past and some have joined now."

Asked if the people joining the BJP from outside would be allotted tickets, he said, "Merit and winnability will be taken into account."