Dhulian (West Bengal): Asserting that it would be her first task to remove Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress president Sonia Gandhi today (May 4, 2004) said her party was the only one to ensure this change.

"My first task is to remove the BJP from power in the elections and Congress can make it," Gandhi told a crowded poll rally, in the presence of the party's Jangipur Parliamentary constituency candidate Pranab Mukherjee, at Garurhat football ground, bordering Bangladesh, in Murshidabad district.

Stating that Congress would strive to bring back social unity and social harmony, "removed during BJP rule", Gandhi said, "We have taken the initiative to unite secular parties, but political arithmetic is different. Each party is taking care of its own interest."

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...

She, however, did not elaborate on this issue.

Stating that only Congress was able to put the country "back on the rails of progress", she said, "Here our fight is against both BJP and the CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist). We are against the CPM in running the Government here. They are doing no work... Thousands of crores of Rupees are not being spent on development... education, electricity, road infrastructure are all in dismal condition, while women have lost honour."

Gandhi was bitterly critical of Left Front "misrule" on law and order in particular, which, according to her, was "gradually" breaking down.