New Delhi: Dismissing exit poll predictions of a hung Lok Sabha and a depleted strength for National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (Apr 27, 2004) claimed that the coalition led by it will secure a "comfortable majority", but sidestepped questions whether it would go in for new allies in the post-poll scenario.

"There is no need for thinking about post-poll alliances. We are confident of getting a comfortable majority...we don't believe in the philosophy of untouchability," party president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in New Delhi.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...
Political Parties in India

He met the press after a review meeting by party's top leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani after the second phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections. Most of the exit polls yesterday predicted a hung parliament with the race becoming tighter and the ruling coalition tipped to fall short of the majority by as many as 40 seats.

"In politics, it is very difficult to talk in 'ifs and buts'," he said to a specific question whether the BJP-led NDA would consider going in for new allies if it failed to get a majority.

A highlight of the press conference was the admission by Naidu that in Andhra Pradesh, where its key ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in power, the "contest has come closer".

He said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke by the phone with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani and him, during which he expressed confidence of a renewed mandate in the State.

Appealing to people to ensure a stable Government under the leadership of Vajpayee, the BJP chief said the choice before the electorate was a Government led by Vajpayee or "an unstable rag-tag Government (of Opposition parties) where the fight for Prime Ministership has already begun."

Naidu said it was "comical" to see Congress leaders boasting that their party would form the next Government. "It appears that the Congress has still not been cured of its itch to claim a non-existent victory."

Noting that in April 1999, the Congress leaders had claimed that they would form an alternative Government "in five minutes", he said later they had to sit on Opposition benches for five years. Same would be their fate after the current elections, he added.

To a specific query as to why he was appealing to people to vote for the NDA when he was confident of 300 seats for the alliance, Naidu quipped, "In an exam, one has to study till the last minute. Like that, till last minute you have to make efforts."

As part of its strategy to focus on Uttar Pradesh, which holds key to power at the Centre, the party has deputed its organising general secretary Sanjay Joshi to that State till the elections are over.

It has also asked senior leaders from other States where elections are over to move to Uttar Pradesh.

Naidu said as predicted by the BJP, the "unseemly race" for Prime Ministership has already begun in the Opposition camp, even though there is no chance whatsoever of the formation of a non-NDA Government.

"Even before the second phase of polling is over, two leaders of the Congress camp have announced that they are in the race for Prime Minister. Several other aspirants are also waiting in the wings," he said.

Dismissing the exit poll predictions, Naidu said the BJP would surpass the "best estimate" in the pre-poll opinion polls and exit polls.

He said this was what had happened in the case of outcome of Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in December last year.

As regards Karnataka, Naidu claimed that his party would form the Government in the State, which would be the first by the saffron party in the South.