Mumbai: Stating that performance of the party was 'not on expected lines', Maharashtra BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today said that the party could not garner support of its traditional urban base, particularly non-Maharashtrians.

Although the report does not mention the 'Mee Mumbaikar' campaign launched by its saffron partner Shiv Sena prior to the Lok Sabha polls, the mention of how the urban populace and non-Maharashtrians got swayed away from the BJP, alludes to the extent to which BJP lost due to its partner's moves.

Presenting the assessment report prepared by the State BJP unit at the national executive meeting in Mumbai today (June 22, 2004), Maharashtra BJP president Gopinath Munde stated that the effects of disinvestment policy, falling bank interest rates and unrest among the middle-class, particularly pensioners, went against the party.

According to the report, BJP made good inroads in rural areas, which helped the party improve its tally to 13 in Lok Sabha polls.

"But the party would have fared much better if the urban voter base had rallied once again behind the BJP," the report has said.