Gujarat victory is the beginning of the party's march towards victory in the
Assembly elections next year and Lok Sabha polls in 2004.
Addressing jubilant party workers at his residence, Vajpayee said the "spectacular"
performance in Gujarat Assembly polls has launched the party's march towards victory
in coming elections in states.
"This is the beginning of our march towards victory which should be taken to its
logical conclusion next year when Assembly elections are due in several states and
Lok Sabha elections (in 2004)," he said.
In his first reaction to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s victory in Gujarat,
Vajpayee, flanked by his deputy L K Advani and party president M Venkaiah Naidu,
said partymen should begin preparations in the states on the basis of the Gujarat
outcome.
"This win has come along with victories for BJP in Rajasthan where we have won all
the three Assembly by-elections and in Godda (Jharkhand) where we have retained the
Lok Sabha seat," he said.
Hitting out at Congress for attempting to play the communal card, Vajpayee
said, "Communalism is a double-edged sword which cuts both ways."
He said while BJP refrained from making Godhra an election issue, it was Congress
which had promised a White Paper on it and this was rejected by the people.
Congratulating BJP workers for the Gujarat success, Vajpayee said the people of the
state had given an opportunity to the party to carve out a map for its
development.
"The people have reposed faith in us to allow the party to prepare a new map for the
state," he said, adding that BJP has the capacity to produce "such spectacular
wins".
PTI
