Panaji, May 6 (IANS) The price rise issue will be an effective tool for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to make inroads into south Indian states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, party president Nitin Gadkari said Thursday.

Addressing a press conference here, Gadkari said the party's nationwide campaign on the issue of price rise had received a healthy response throughout the country, including south Indian states.

"We can make inroads in south India with the price rise agitation. No other agitation in the last 10 years has generated so much support (as the price rise agitation). Even in states like Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This is a good change to make inroads," Gadkari, who is in Goa on a two-day visit, said.

The BJP, which has often been criticized for not being able to make its presence felt in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, also said that these two states were in the cross-hairs of the party now. "South will be one of our major thrust areas. Workers are also working in that direction," Gadkari said.

The BJP leader also said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had completely failed to keep tabs on the issue of price rise as far as essential commodities were concerned and that the BJP was trying its best to take the central government to task on the issue throughout the nation.

Gadkari, who is in Goa on a two-day visit beginning Thursday, will address a public meeting Friday and will interact with several party leaders during his stay here.