The Hindu : Front Page : Vajpayee breaks his silence in Lucknow

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Thursday, Apr 26, 2007
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Vajpayee breaks his silence in Lucknow

Special Correspondent

AT HOME: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is the BJP Member of Parliament from Lucknow, campaigning for the party in the city on Wednesday along with former UP Chief Ministers Kalyan Singh and Rajnath Singh. - PHOTO: SUBIR ROY.

LUCKNOW: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday said the results of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on May 11 would usher in a new chapter in the State.

Addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party election meeting at Kapurthala Crossing in Lucknow - his first election rally in the State since the polls were announced -- Mr. Vajpayee said, "The people want change and this is possible only if they vote for the BJP."

The BJP leader, who is also the Member of Parliament from Lucknow, said the objective of the party was not only to contest elections but also to see that the country progresses more.

Mr. Vajpayee said he was happy that the BJP was getting the people's support, and this support was reflected in the party winning the Punjab and Uttarakhand Assembly elections held recently.

He said one thing had become clear in the country: the people's attention was focused on the burning issues of the day. They wanted solutions to the problem of improving the lot of the common man.

The former Prime Minister said he was of the opinion that there should be no differences among the people.

Taking a dig at the Samajwadi Party-led Government in UP, he said even the opponents of the BJP had accepted that only road building was not sufficient for development. Something else was needed, which only the BJP could provide, he added.

Mr. Vajpayee refuted reports that he was opposed to Kalyan Singh being projected as the shadow Chief Minister of UP.

He said it had been reported that he had refused to campaign for the party thus far as he was angry with Mr. Kalyan Singh, and added that the misconception had been deliberately created by some people.

Describing Kalyan Singh as an old colleague, the veteran Lucknow MP said they had worked together for years and would continue working together in the party.

He said Lucknow was his city and he felt happy whenever he came here. Exhorting the people to support the BJP candidates in the elections from Lucknow that were due on April 28, Mr. Vajpayee announced that he himself would cast his vote here.

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