India, West Kolhapur: BJP (Bharatiya Janatha Party) general secretary Pramod Mahajan on May 20 said the party would not make 'hindutva' an election issue in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

"Hindutva is our 'jhanda' (flag) and not agenda," Mahajan told reporters at the party's district headquarters in Kolhapur.

Referring to the coming Assembly elections in five states, Mahajan reiterated that BJP would contest the polls in full strength in Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh.

"Out of the five states, Congress is ruling in four states. We will contest election on our own strength in these four states," he said, adding "however, in Mizoram, BJP is contesting for the first time".

On relations with neighbouring countries, Mahajan told the reporters Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's policy of friendship with China and Bangladesh has benefited us.

Similarly, if there is peace on the Western front, the country will be benefited to a large extent.

"However, US should not use pressure tactics in Indo-Pak relations," Mahajan remarked.

PTI