He said attacks on the BJP leaders and workers during the recently-concluded rural bodies’ elections were a proof of their new role. Speaking to mediapersons after chairing the state executive body meeting of the party, Bhandari said, “Ours is a responsible party. We strongly believe in nationalism, secularism and democracy. We are of a firm belief that there should be a strong opposition to keep the government under check.”

He said while the state government was responsibly doing its duty, the opposition Congress has failed to meet people’s expectations.

Bhandari, who was flanked by Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia and state general secretary Anil Sareen, said the state executive body meet of the party condemned the Central government for unprecedented increase in the petroleum prices and passed a resolution to try to impress upon the state government to cut taxes to reduce the impact of the hike on the common man. Kalia said while the Central government had asked the state governments to cut taxes to reduce the shock of the hike, it has not reduced the Central taxes on petroleum products.

He said the state executive meet had demanded that as Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his government have expressed their helplessness to check the rising prices, they have no right to be in power.

Bhandari said the BJP would contest the forthcoming municipal council elections in the state on its own election symbol and use the experience of senior party leaders such as Madan Mohan Mittal, Balramji Dass Tandon and Brij Lal Rinwa.