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Advani rules out early election

JAIPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Monday ruled out the likelihood of an early Lok Sabha election but asserted that the party would remain in “election mode.”

The BJP had talked about early election a few months ago.

Mr. Advani, who was addressing a two-day State executive meeting of the party here, said one reason why the United Progressive Alliance did not opt for an early election was the reluctance of the Left parties to do so. “The Left parties are not keen on elections as they would lose in Kerala and West Bengal.”

While predicting a bleak future for the concept of a third front, he said: “They may talk about a third front but the Marxists have no future. Elsewhere in the world, barring in a few islands, Communism has become extinct,” he said.

Mr. Advani felt that while women, tribals and ex-Servicemen were the natural constituencies of the BJP, there was a need to enlist the support of the youth. “There is need to bring in the youth as they are a big power.”

Mr. Advani came down heavily on the United Progressive Alliance government’s “misrule,” its “flawed” concept of secularism, and expressed concern over the continuing backwardness of the country.

The Pokhran nuclear test was a major achievement of the National Democratic Alliance government, he said and defended its stand on the Ayodhya temple, Article 370 and the uniform civil code. “It was the NDA government, not a BJP government.”

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Jaswant Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, State BJP president Omprakash Mathur and BJP Mahila Morcha president Kiran Maheshwari were among those present at the inaugural. Mr. Mathur, in the presidential address, hailed Mr. Advani as the “future Prime Minister of India.”

Bonhomie prevailed at the meeting that was being held at the community centre of the Maheshwari Samaj.

In contrast, the last State executive meeting, held in the temple town of Sanwaliaji in Chittorgarh in October was a disaster with more than half a dozen Ministers, who were demanding the removal of the then State party president, Mahesh Chandra Sharma, keeping away. “I am happy that there are no more differences between the organisation and the government,” Mr. Advani noted.

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