New Delhi: In the backdrop of exit poll projections on a not-so-good performance for National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (May 1, 2004) raised the spectre of stability on account of "squabbling" within the Opposition leadership and expressed confidence of making gains in the remaining two "crucial" rounds of elections.

Noting that the exit polls had brought to centre stage these issues, BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley told reporters that the division over leadership in Opposition ranks had once again presented the danger of instability that the country saw in 1996 when "we had Governments lasting for six to eight months".

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

"Already the Opposition leaders have started squabbling over who'll be the Prime Minister. If this is a precursor, then the situation in the event of NDA not getting a clear majority would be worse," he said, denying that BJP was "over reacting" or shifting its election plank from development to stability.

"We are a unified alliance with no debate over the leader, while they are saying that the leader as also policies would be decided after the elections. There is no justification for this in politics," he said.

In an apparent reference to Samajwadi supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's statement of attempting to form a third front, he said, "Where is the third front? The country has already experienced unstable Governments. This tragedy should not be forced on the nation again."