Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (May 5, 2004) said it could take help from smaller political parties in case it falls short of numbers in the 14th Lok Sabha.

"Though we are confident of gaining clear majority in the next Lok Sabha, we could take help from smaller political parties in case we fall short of a couple of seats," party national general secretary Pramod Mahajan told reporters in Lucknow.

To a question on whether the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could take help from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party to form the Government, Mahajan said his party has cordial relations with all, including BSP.

Elections 2004-The Drama unfolds...

Mahajan rejected charges against BJP leaders that they have been making personal attacks on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and said, "Our leaders have only been questioning her ability to become the country's Prime Minister."

"It is Congress and its leaders, particularly Ram Jethmalani who is in fray as Congress supported candidate from Lucknow, who were making personal attacks on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by raising questions about his health and age," he said.

Mahajan exuded confidence that Vajpayee's victory margin would go up considerably and claimed BJP was well placed on 20 to 22 of 30 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, where elections are being held today.

In the last elections in 1999, the saffron party had bagged seven of the 30 seats in Central Uttar Pradesh.