Cong a team without captain: Advani

Deputy PM L.K. Advani made a whirlwind tour of Diphu, Nagaon, Sibsagar and Dibrugarh as campaigning for seven of the eight seats in the final phase of polling in Assam ended on Saturday.

Ridiculing the Congress as a team without a captain, Advani said: ‘‘Look at the Congress. It is playing a tournament without a captain. Have you ever heard of a team announcing its captain after the game is over?’’

Expressing confidence that the NDA would return to power with a ‘‘comfortable’’ majority, Advani said the dream of India becoming a developed nation would be fulfilled under the BJP by 2006. The Deputy Prime Minister also made a renewed appeal to the ULFA for a negotiated settlement.