Mumbai: Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on June 20 expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would win a renewed and stronger mandate under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

"The NDA will win a stronger mandate under the leadership of Vajpayee in the next Parliamentary elections, whenever they are held", Advani said while delivering his valedictory address at the conclusion of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) four-day brainstorming session in Thane district.

Advani described Vajpayee as "Vajradapi kathorani, mruduni kusumadapi--which means he is as strong as the diamond when firmness is demanded but also as soft as a flower".

The people of India as well as the international community have seen both the aspects of the Prime Minister, Advani said adding that it is not a coincidence that around the same time when Vajpayee launched his latest peace initiative with Pakistan, the government also mounted the highly successful Operation Sarp Vinash against terrorists infiltrating from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir.

Advani said, "the greatest strength of the BJP is that we have a great leader but have continued to remain wedded to our principle of collective deliberation and decision-making".

PTI