Sunday, April 2 2006 12:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: As he prepares to embark on his sixth political yatra, senior BJP leader L K Advani is keen about a change in his party's image and does not see any immediate realignment of political forces after the coming Assembly elections.

In a relaxed mood ahead of his gruelling more than a month-long 'Bharat Suraksha Yatra', the 78-year-old Leader of the Opposition was unsparing in his criticism of theCongress-led UPA coalition, especially what he saw as its 'minority appeasement' policies.

He was, however, skeptical about mid-term elections to Lok Sabha or about revival of the Third Front disturbing the current bipolar polity.

In a free-wheeling interview to sources , the former BJP President was frank enough to admit that the Sangh Parivar units like VHP were 'not enthusiastic' about him but it doesn't hurt him.

Advani dismissed Opposition criticism about his 'Yatra' and fears that it may stoke violence saying it was all a 'created image' and not a single incident of violence had been reported during his previous Yatras.

Speaking about his controversial Pakistan tour and reports that he was keen on an image makeover there, he blamed the media for interpreting his Jinnah remarks as a conscious effort to change his image.

"I continue to be what I am and I have always been. I would like the party's image to change. There is a wide dissonance between the party's reality and its image. After myresignation from the party Presidentship, I said I feel sad that my party lost an opportunity," he said.

Asked about the party's efforts to adopt a Centrist approach when it was in power and its present dilemma when out of power and what it should do ideologically, Advani shot back "these are all very often simplistic journalistic comments".

To another question as to what the party should do to change its image, he said, "Nothing except to be true to our concept of cultural nationalism, We don't have to fight shy ofbeing proud Hindus and to its commitment to one billion people of the country and the guarantee is there shall be justice for all and appeasement of none."

Asked whether the UPA government would complete is term in the light of serious economic differences between the Communists and those in Governemnt, Advani said, "It is difficult to say. Even those in government cannot be sure. It is an arrangement of convenience."

He said that there was no agreement on economic policies and the Congress was forced to accept the coalition. For the Commhunists internationally it was anti-Americanism and domestically it was anti-BJPism.