Mangalore: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on May 15 highlighted the need for political stability in a Democracy like India.

While political stability is a "must in a Democracy, it is not a panacea", he said addressing party workers in Mangalore.

Describing National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as the "longest surviving" coalition government at the Centre, he said the earlier coalitions had not succeeded in providing stability.

The ideology of "cultural nationalism and practice of value-based politics" has enabled the coalition government to govern successfully, he said.

The government's success has also been due to the strength of the regional parties working on the common minimum development (CMD) programmes, Advani said.

Besides undertaking development projects, the coalition government has revived the concept of social justice by taking the basic necessities to the poor. "Simple comforts like credits, telephone and milk, which were on the verge of becoming luxuries to the poor under earlier regimes have been given," he said.

The party (Bharatiya Janata Party) however needs to mobilise support at the grassroots level as the people are watching its performance, he said.

PTI