Najma Heptulla, Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate for the Rajya Sabha, describes BJP as a party with the "most secular agenda."

Also Read Najma, Joshi, Sinha BJP candidates for RS polls

"What BJP has done in the last six years in the field of development, I think it has the most secular agenda which is above caste, creed or religion," she said.

Heptulla, who had four terms -- 24 years -- in the Upper House as a representative of the Congress, resigned from the party shortly after the Rajya Sabha adjourned on Thursday. Shortly after, the BJP announced her candidature from Rajasthan.

The outgoing deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha said the previous National Democratic Alliance government's development programmes criss-crossed the length and breadth of the country and passed through all regions. "I feel development is the most secular agenda," she said.

Heptulla, however, declined to comment on the Gujarat riots and also refrained from answering any question relating
to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.