Ahmedabad: Asserting that there was strong BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) wave across the country, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (Feb 15, 2004) said the common sentiment embedded in voters' mind was that BJP must be given the mandate for next five years.

"The atmosphere is very conducive for BJP at the moment and due to the developmental works done by Vajpayee Government in last five years, voters across the country feel that the BJP Government must be given a mandate for next five years," Advani told reporters, after emerging from a meeting of party leaders of Gandhinagar Parliamentary constituency in Ahmedabad.

When asked whether the slew of programmes attended by him were an indication that he has launched his Lok Sabha poll campaign, Advani replied in affirmative but hastened to add that it is the party's Parliamentary board which would decide from which constituency he would contest the polls.

"Given a choice, I would always prefer to contest from Gandhinagar for the fourth time", said Advani, who has hit the campaign trail in Assembly constituencies under Gandhinagar for the second time in last 10 days.