Lashing out at the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre, BJP said on Tuesday the soaring inflation and price rise was due to the 'failure' of the government to take steps at the right time to tackle the issue.

The government, unfortunately, remained preoccupied on other things and started taking steps after price rise and inflation reached its peak, former Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha told reporters at Coimbatore.

Inflation was also a result of government's 'mismanagament' and 'negligence' to pay attention to the economic front, he said, adding,the next government would have to work hard to put the economy on the right track.

On reports that the issue was being politicised, Sinha, in Coimbatore to participate in the BJP state workers' meeting, alleged that AICC president Sonia Gandhi was the first one to politicise the issue by saying that inflation was the result of NDA rule.

The statement was repeated by other Congress leaders, who also started blaming the BJP and NDA ruled States, for inflation, he said.

Asked whether inflation and price rise would be advantageous to BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, Singh said people were angry at UPA government and this was going to reflect in the polls. It had already reflected in some state elections and BJP was the natural alternative for the people, he claimed.

• Inflation, the silent killer!