Bhind (Madhya Pradesh): Asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alone was capable of taking the nation on the path of rapid development and providing stability, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (May 4, 2004) sought a decisive mandate for the ruling coalition.

Kick-starting BJP's campaign for the second phase of polling in Madhya Pradesh, Vajpayee, at an election meeting said the six-years of NDA rule has pulled the country out of backwardness, making it one of the fastest growing economy in the world.

Dwelling at length on the ambitious projects like inter-linking of rivers and Golden Quadrilateral, which is close to his heart, the Prime Minister said the mega river project was an answer to tackle the perennial drought situation in vast parts of the country.

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The availability of water would not only ensure doubling of food grain production but the commodity would be available in our factories, Vajpayee said.

Rubbishing the main Opposition Congress' claim that BJP-led NDA was "anti-farmer", the Prime Minister said a host of measures, including issuance of Kisan Credit Cards to over three crore farmers, have been taken to mitigate the plight of "ryots" (farmers).

Vajpayee was canvassing for the party's Bhind nominee Ramlakhan Singh. Chief Minister Uma Bharti was also present at the rally.