Indore: Declaring that the outcome of coming Assembly elections would prove decisive and set the direction for the country's future politics, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on April 5 said the performance of the government would be the ultimate barometer and asked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to reach out to the minorities and weaker sections.

Skirting contentious issues, including Ayodhya, Vajpayee told the party's national executive that victory in Gujarat and subsequent defeat in Himachal Pradesh have sent out a clear-cut message to the party to remain well prepared for the coming polls.

"The elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi are very crucial. These polls would be decisive and set the trend for politics in the days to come," Vajpayee said on the second and concluding day of the national executive.

BJP workers would have to reach out to the people in these states, he said, adding that media could be of some assistance towards this but would not be fully sufficient.

"We will have to establish a live communication with the people and I am confident that the party would come out with flying colours in the four states," he asserted.

PTI