New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has acquired the new virus "SARS" – indiscipline and personal ambition – which it has to fight "to emerge victorious in the coming Assembly elections in four states, in readiness to face the "grand battle" for Lok Sabha next year.

The party is already in a war mode and confident of a "4-0" victory in the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chattisgarh later this year, but it will not be a cakewalk over the ruling Congress in all these states, admits BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan.

In his first wide-ranging interview since he was drafted from the government into the party organisation more than two months ago, he also said the BJP was not raising or would not rake up 'hindutva' issues, but it was the opponent that was doing it. "We will surely respond to it."

Mahajan categorically ruled out the possibility of Lok Sabha elections being advanced to be held simultaneously with the Assembly elections or slightly after that in case his party merges victorious in this year's round.

He expressed confidence that BJP's allies will stick to the coalition for the Lok Sabha polls. "In fact, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) now is more cohesive and more united than n 1998," he said, adding that same was the case with the sangh parivar.

"The party is in war mode. We have a very good chance in all the four states. I expect a result of 4-0. But it is not a walkover. We have to fight. Unity and clarity should be the touchstone. Indiscipline and personal ambition have increased in BJP.

"I will have to take care of this new SARS in BJP. One has to deal with this virus," Mahajan said.

He said all the Congress Chief Ministers are intelligent, experienced and shrewd and the party has to keep the powder dry.

The former Union Minister claimed that some "scientific surveys" have indicated that the people in the four states were ready for a change because of the performance of the governments.

He said the performance of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh was so bad on development that it was he who was raking up issues of ban on cow slaughter, Bhojshala shrine and allegations of beef eating by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Mahajan also said the Rajasthan government had made an issue out of a non-issue by banning carrying of trishuls.

"We are only replying (on 'hindutva' issues). He is not sure of his performance. Likewise, Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan has put up a dismal performance. In Delhi, we have been a powerful together, I hope it will be 4-0," he said.

PTI