No need for kingmaker, king's already there: Naidu Thursday, May 6 2004 15:15 Hrs (IST)
New Delhi:
Perked up by the latest exit poll projections of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nearing the half-way mark, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (May 6, 2004) said there was no need for the coalition to approach any other party, as it would get a majority on its own but, kept its doors open in the post-poll scenario.
"It is disappointing for those who wanted to become a kingmaker as there is no need for a kingmaker because king is already there," party president M Venkaiah Naidu said in an apparent dig at the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.
To a specific query whether the NDA would approach Yadav in the post-poll scenario as the BJP has been saying that the SP was its ideological friend, Naidu said it was for Mulayam to decide "where he is".
"First you talk to her," he said when asked whether BJP would seek the support of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati.
At the same time, he said the BJP has an "open mind" if anyone wanted to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "We have no problem of majority...we will discuss it (if anyone wants to join us)."
Naidu stated this after a review meeting of top leaders of the party at the end of the third phase of polling and to chalk out the strategy for the fourth and final phase.