The BJP today said that the main purpose behind its joining the ruling Naga People's Front and JD-U as pre-poll alliance partner is to root out the Congress from Nagaland in the February 23 Nagaland Assembly elections.

Addressing a press conference here, senior BJP national leader and in charge of Nagaland elections, P B Acharya said that his party wants the "arrogant Congress" to be routed in the elections.

He said that out of the 11 candidates the party would be fielding in the election, as many as seven would be put up in the eastern districts of the state.

"We are concerned about the people of this region as development remains very far away from them," he said adding that the BJP supported the demand for a socio-economic package for the four backward districts by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO).

He, however, ruled out supporting the ENPO's demand for a separate state.

Alleging that the UPA government at the Centre had been neglecting Naga people for the last one decade and that it was not serious about resolving the Naga political issue, he said, "The central government should treat any state government equally."

At the same time, he observed that the state government was also responsible for the present condition of the ENPO area.

He said that the stay of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for three days in Kohima in 2003 has proved that BJP was a not a "communal party".

He lashed out at the Congress central leaders for not visiting the state in the last 10 years, saying it indicated that they did not have any concern for the people of a small state like Nagaland.

Touching the core issue of Naga political issue, Acharya said political solution was a must and assured the people of Nagaland that BJP alone could solve the problem.