Ghazipur (UP): Seeking to downplay his remarks about heading a 22-party coalition, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (Apr 19, 2004) said though Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was striving to attain majority on its own in the Lok Sabha elections, it would still go for a coalition Government along with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners.

"No NDA partner is being attached any less importance," Vajpayee said addressing an election rally in Ghazipur, two days after he expressed concern over heading another alliance Government saying sometimes it was difficult to run a 22-party coalition, while seeking votes for BJP in Maharashtra.

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Political Parties in India

"BJP understands the importance of smaller parties...we too at a time had been a small party having only two members in the Lok Sabha, but now we are about 200," he said.