Dholpur: Describing Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as "consensus-builder" and a "credible leader", Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (March 23, 2004) said, "He is regarded as a natural Prime Minister by the people in the same way as Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was."

People of India trust Vajpayee, under whose leadership Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking a decisive mandate for National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the coming Lok Sabha polls, and his judgement, Advani told reporters before moving on his "Bharat Uday Yatra" after an overnight stay.

One of the main reasons why our election promises struck a chord in the hearts and minds of the people was the credibility of NDA Government led by Vajpayee, he said.

There will be only three issues before the electorate this time - good governance, development and leadership, he added.

Focusing entirely on Vajpayee's leadership during his interaction with media persons, Advani said his role in lifting India from the depths of despondency to a point where the world is sitting up to take notice, stems from his abiding nationalism and his deep understanding of the vast country.

Taking a snide at Congress, he said Indian National Congress had lost its "Indian and national" suffixes and was reduced to mere Congress.