New Delhi: With exit polls indicating a better performance for the party in the Assembly elections, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Dec 3, 2003) asked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs to start preparing for the Lok Sabha elections, even though it was still a year away.

Addressing the first meeting of the Parliamentary Party during the winter session of Parliament, he said the members should highlight the achievements of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government and emphasise on issues like development and good governance, party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters after the meeting.

"Even though the Lok Sabha elections are still a year away, all of you should highlight the achievements of the NDA Government and this task should be undertaken immediately after end of the current session," the Prime Minister said.

Malhotra said the party would counter the Opposition adjournment motion in an "aggressive" manner and highlight issues like Telgi Stamp Scam, whose probe the party has been demanding be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by Maharasthra Government.

He said the party was ready for discussion on any issue and that these could be done in a smooth manner.

Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani expressed satisfaction on the party's campaigning for Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Delhi, party sources said.

Advani told the MPs that just as the party had focussed on development and good governance during the electioneering, members should do the same in their constituencies soon after conclusion of the session, the sources said.

PTI