New Delhi: Claiming that Prime Minister's "forgetfulness" has become a national issue in the elections, Congress today (Apr 30, 2004) suggested that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should look for a "youthful" leader to replace Atal Bihari Vajpayee as he was not fit to lead the nation in the 21st century.

"We have a Prime Minister who is even forgetting the dates of polls in his constituency (Lucknow) and asking the people to cast their votes on September five," party spokesman Kapil Sibal said.

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

Recently, he said, the Prime Minister even forgot whether it was Lok Sabha polls or Rajya Sabha polls and the names of his party's candidates while campaigning in Chhattisgarh.

In a lighter vein, Sibal said that he was afraid that the "forgetful" Prime Minister may take his aircraft somewhere else other than the destination. "We do not want that such a situation arises," he said.

He was also concerned as to what kind of promises Vajpayee may commit to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and later forget them.

"In such a situation, the people have realised that the BJP need a youth leader to lead the party," he said.

Claiming that Congress, its allies and Left Front were heading for a "clear victory" in the polls, Sibal said, "Nothing is left with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), not even Hindutava. Only Prime Minister is left with them who does not even remember the dates of the polls."