New Delhi, April 22: The Opposition NDA on Tuesday called for a general strike on May two to protest the UPA Government's inability to control rising prices of essential commodities which continue to "torment" the common man. MPs of the opposition alliance also will form a human chain in Parliament premises on Friday in an attempt to turn the heat on the Government on the issue of price rise.

The decision to launch the agitation was taken at a meeting of the NDA chaired by Leader of the Opposition L K Advani. Leaders of Akali Dal, BJD and Shiv Sena attended the meeting.

The call for the strike comes at a time when assembly elections are to be held in Karnataka next month, where the party plans to make price rise an electoral issue.

"Essential services will be exempted from the call for the general strike," BJP Parliamentary party spokesman V K Malhotra said, adding the details were being worked out on who should participate in the agitation.

Conspicuous by his absence at the NDA meet was Sharad Yadav, President of the JD(U) whose relations with BJP have soured after differences cropped up over seat sharing in poll-bound Karnataka.

However, Malhotra sought to downplay Yadav's absence claiming that the JD(U) leader had sent his suggestions to the meeting and an assurance that his outfit would support any decision taken by the alliance leaders.

JD(U) and BJP have announced lists of their candidates for the Karnataka assembly elections with some constituencies witnessing alliance partners pitched against each other.