: V Saminathan, general secretary of Puducherry state committee of BJP was today elected unopposed as the party president.
He succeeds M Visweswaran, MLA (nominated member) as party president following completition of three year term.
Saminathan told PTI the party's mission was to ensure its presence in the Assembly in the wake of the coming polls.
He said Puducherry should be developed into a model Union Territory in all sectors.
The cooperation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Puducherry was chiefly responsible for its progress in various sectors and still greater heights would be scaled with his sustained cooperationr, he said.
The party has enrolled as many as 75,000 new members under 'enrolment through missed calls' so far, he said.
He said BJP 'isan alliance partner of the ruling AINRC'.
He also said that organisational work was being intensified.
He would assume charge soon and a delegate of the high command would formally induct him as the new leader here.
(REOPENS DEL40)
The five places associated with Ambedkar and being
developed by the central government are being projected by BJP as 'panchtirth' (pilgrim centres).
These include his birthplace in Mhow, twin houses in Delhi and London, in Nagpur where he had converted to Buddhism and Chaityabhoomi in Mumbai where he was cremated.
As part of its programmes, the party will also publicise Ambedkar's works and reward bright students from the poor sections of society in villages, sources said.
From April 17 to 20, the party will highlight the government's pro-farmer measures, including the Prime Minister's Crop Insurance Scheme.
From April 20-24, sources said, it will publicise the allocation of Rs 80 lakh in the Union Budget for each panchayat.
BJP will also distribute booklets in this regard, they said.
April 24 is the Panchyati Raj Day and Modi is scheduled to address a gathering in Jharkhand.
The central government has lined up a series of events during the 11 days between April 14-24 and party leaders and cadres will join the exercise and organise their own events, sources said.
"Modi has always spoken about the coordination between the government and the party. He has asked the party to publicise the government's works and give it the feedback from the ground. Our programmes will be a part of this," an office-bearer said.
