Date:22/02/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/02/22/stories/2004022204600800.htm

National

BJP's second phase of campaign from February 25

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 21. The Bharatiya Janata Party's second phase of election campaign will begin from February 25, when a rally has been planned at Talkatora Stadium here on the theme of minorities and development. Some RSS-affiliated organisations will also participate in it.

In contrast to the earlier Lok Sabha polls, the party is now trying to woo the minorities vigorously, although on its own terms. The repeated references to the resolution of the Ayodhya dispute through negotiations, but on the terms acceptable to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, are also part of an effort to convey the message that if the issue were to be resolved, with the minorities giving up the claim on the land on which the Babri Masjid stood, it would pave the way for better relations between the two communities. This sentiment has been expressed by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpaye, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and the party president, M. Venkaiah Naidu.

The BJP spokesperson, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said today that the second phase of the party's campaign would last till March 5. The first phase comes to an end on Monday. Mr. Naqvi said that all communities, including the minorities, want Mr. Vajpayee to form the next government. ``Vajpayeeji has instilled confidence in the people.''

By March 5 the State election committees would meet to finalise their list of recommendations for candidates for both Lok Sabha, and Assembly elections in a few States. From March 10 to 15, the central election committee would meet to begin the process of finalising the candidates.

Mr. Naqvi said the election management agents had been selected for 500 Lok Sabha constituencies. The party may contest in only about 350 seats, but it would have its organisational men in all constituencies to make sure that the party's votes go to its allies and not to the Opposition parties.

Responding to questions related to the background of D.P. Yadav, who joined the party yesterday, Mr. Naqvi compared the party to the ``ocean in which all kinds of streams flow — rivers, clear water streams and dirty `nullahs'.'' His contention was that even a ``dirty nullah'' loses its stench when it flows into the ocean.