Tuesday, June 7 2005 14:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Two days after scoring a comfortable victory in Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency bypoll, Karnataka unit Samajwadi Party (SP) President S Bangarappa today (Jun 7, 2005) announced a couple of plans targetted towards strengthening the party in the State.

Addressing a press conference in Bangalore, he said the party would organise dharna on June 15 in the city to highlight what he termed the "failures" of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government.

The agitation also aims to focus the Centre's attention to the SP's demands which include review of VAT laws and its forcible imposition on traders, remunerative prices of farm produce, free medical treatment to poor and equal rights to women among other things.

Bangarappa, who emerged victorious in the June 2 bypoll amidst stiff challenge by Congress, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and JDS (Janata Dal Secular), accused all these three parties of joining hands to defeat him, but having failed.

The former Chief Minister said he would take a lead in the formation of a Third Front in Karnataka also, but did not elaborate the players the SP was eyeing on for mustering support to the front.

He claimed that the Congress-JDS coalition Government headed by Chief Minister N Dharam Singh would soon collapse on its own.

Bangarappa said he would tour parts of North Karnataka region from June 25 to strengthen the party and appoint office bearers in districts and taluks where the exercise has not been taken up so far.