The Hindu : `No anti-incumbency factor against NDA'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

`No anti-incumbency factor against NDA'

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, FEB. 19. The Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ram Naik, said here today that there was no anti-incumbency factor against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre and that Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be returned as Prime Minister in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Conceding that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had won the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh by capitalising on this factor, Mr. Naik said the achievements of the Vajpayee Government had ensured that it would not work against the NDA in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a meeting on the theme `India on the Move', at the industrial trade fair, `INTEC 2004', organised by the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA), he said there was a "feel good factor" as the focus of the entire nation was on the achievements of the Government.

Turning India into a nuclear power, overcoming U.S. sanctions, turning around the foodgrain scenario by even exporting rice and wheat, introducing credit cards for farmers and a giant leap in information technology and infrastructure development such as roads were some instances from a long list of the Government's achievements, he said. "In sharp contrast to a mere 556 km of four-lane roads over a period of 50 years till 1999, the last five years saw 14,846 km of four or six-lane roads being laid across the country. The Golden Quadrilateral, connecting the four metropolis of New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai is a landmark achievement."

Stating that the foreign exchange reserves stood at $ 105 millions, he claimed that beginning with prompt repayment of loans, the country had progressed to the extent of lending to other developing nations.

Earlier, addressing presspersons, Mr. Naik said the Congress could not criticise the Central Government's `India is Shining' advertisement campaign as its Governments in New Delhi and Maharashtra had also resorted to such methods. Defending the NDA's advertisement, he said, "During elections, we are duty-bound to inform the people on our achievements. As for the charges (of the Congress) of unfair approach, the people will judge."

Asked why the BJP opted for early dissolution of the Lok Sabha when it had been highly critical of it while not in power, he said April-May was the ideal time for elections as rain had disrupted polls during September and October.

When presspersons asked the State BJP president, C.P. Radhakrishnan, (who was present at the press briefing) about the resentment in his party over the alliance partner, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), offering it only seven seats, Mr. Naik intervened to say that some adjustments were inevitable. Even the Congress had to make such an adjustment, he pointed out.

On his part, Mr. Radhakrishnan, sought to play down the AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's election tour itinerary skipping Coimbatore (from where he is tipped to contest for the third consecutive time).

"She is scheduled to address a meeting at Othakalmandapam (near here). However, we have requested her to address a meeting in Tirupur (Mr. Radhakrishnan's hometown in Coimbatore district)."

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