New Delhi: A day after the disapproval by the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Feb 9, 2004) sought to justify the Government's media advertisement campaign saying he did not see any wrong in it.

But once the Model of Code of Conduct came into force, it would be strictly implemented, he said.

Vajpayee, who was interacting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and leaders from his Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency at his residence, told them that the code of conduct should be implemented "in letter and spirit" once it came into operation.

"Ours is a Democratic party and we believe in Democratic traditions," he said, recalling that every Government in the past had resorted to ad campaign to highlight its achievements.

"It is the duty of the Government to inform the people about its achievements. This information should be carried to the people and it should reach them," Vajpayee said, adding this has been done by previous Governments at the Centre and in States.

Just after he took over as the new CEC yesterday, T S Krishna Murthy said his personal view was that as far as possible taxpayers' money should not be used for electoral advantages.

He appealed to the political parties to follow the code of conduct though election schedule was yet to be announced.