NDA endorses Advani as PM candidate

NDA endorsed L K Advani as its candidate for PM and retained A B Vajpayee as its chairman and George Fernandes as convener.

Sounding the bugle for the Lok Sabha polls, opposition NDA on Tuesday endorsed L K Advani as its prime ministerial candidate and retained former premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee as its chairman and George Fernandes as convener.

At a special meeting attended by chiefs of all constituents as also Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states, the opposition alliance resolved to face the polls under a common programme “to dislodge the anti-poor…UPA government and to secure a decisive mandate for NDA.”

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Bannerjee or any representative of her party were the only absentees with BJP leader Sushma Swaraj downplaying the development saying party leader Dinesh Trivedi had only on Monday night told her he would attend.

Story continues below this ad

“Only time will tell if they have stayed away or could not attend,” Swaraj said briefing reporters after the three-hour long meeting.

The meeting took place at Advani’s residence, unlike earlier meetings which were held at Vajpayee’s residence. The NDA leaders in a resolution said that the alliance “shall continue to seek the wise, visionary and inspiring guidance of its chairman and former Prime Minister Vajpayee.”

Addressing the meeting, Advani said it demonstrated the NDA’s determination to make “2008-the year of change at the Centre.”

He said, “as things stand today elections might take place at their scheduled time in early 2009 or in the latter half of this year.”

Story continues below this ad

“If the elder in the family becomes aged, he does not lose his importance,” Swaraj quipped when asked how was it that the former Prime Minister was not fit enough to attend the meetings but still continued to be the chairman of NDA.

The meeting saw the NDA chief ministers attacking the Congress-led coalition at the centre for “bias” against the NDA-ruled states.

It was decided to hold a meeting of all NDA chief ministers on the agenda of good governance, development and security, the three ideals the opposition alliance pledges to uphold.

While there was no talk on the issue of expanding NDA, the leaders said that efforts needed to be made to bring more members to the alliance, Swaraj said.

Story continues below this ad

Advani said, “with this meeting, the NDA has sounded the bugle of battle against the failed, non-performing, corrupt and internally divided government of the Congress-led UPA.”

The leader of the opposition said that the goal should not be only to ensure the NDA’s victory but “also to make the Congress suffer the worst defeat in its history.”

The NDA meeting resolved to contest the next Lok Sabha polls with “a common strategy and common programme under the leadership of Advani.”

Hailing Advani’s life-long service to the nation and vast political and parliamentary experience and impeccable integrity, the NDA expressed confidence that he will lead the alliance to victory in the polls.