Sonia's campaign has revived Congress fortunes, admits Advani
Bharatiya Janata Party president L K Advani
on Monday admitted that Sonia Gandhi's entry into the Congress
campaign had definitely infused life into that party and made it a
direct contest between the BJP and the Congress in the current election.
He, however, asserted that the BJP and its allies would get a
clear and comfortable majority and a coalition government led by
Atal Bihari Vajpayee would assume office at the Centre in
March.
Addressing a press conference, Advani said it was a one-horse
race some time back. None of the parties were in the race but now
there was some change in the situation after Sonia's hectic campaign,
he said.
The BJP president said the change was, however, good for the BJP
as this would not allow its cadre to become over-confident and
complacent. He referred to the last UP assembly election in which
the party was over-confident and therefore could not achieve a clear
majority.
Advani said the crowds at Sonia's
meetings were not indicative of a Congress victory. Leaders of the
Bharatiya Jana Sangh used to draw unprecedented crowds at their
election meetings but a majority of them lost their deposits, he said.
Referring to reports that he may become deputy prime minister if a BJP government were to assume office at the Centre, Advani
said there was no need to have such a post.
"I am not in favour of the post of deputy prime minister," he declared.
Asked whether he would accept the post
or become a minister in the Vajpayee ministry, Advani said, "I have no objection in serving under him.
Vajpayee is my political senior."
Turning to Bofors, Advani said
fear of revelation of the identity of the beneficiary in the arms deal
pay-off was the main reason for the Congress withdrawing support to the Gujral government.
Advani said the Congress could not afford revelation of the identity of the account
holder who had received money transferred from Italian businessman
Ottavio Quattrocchi's Swiss account.
"Once this information is revealed, the identity of the real
beneficiary of the Bofors commission would have become known. It was
because of this that the government was pulled down. This
untimely general election was the last desperate throw of a
gambler's dice," he said.
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