Date:22/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/22/stories/2007092261991600.htm

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BJP should get ready: Vajpayee

Neena Vyas

“People’s sentiments have been hurt by the ruling dispensation”

BHOPAL: Who will be the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha election?

It became a talking point once again when the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, sent a message to the party’s national executive committee meeting here on Friday, saying: “I am unable to attend the executive meeting because of my recent illness after hospitalisation. However, with the good wishes of party members I will be well again soon and will be amongst you.”

His message, read out at the meeting, referred obliquely to the Ramar Sethu controversy, and said the party should get ready to shoulder responsibility (of governance) once again.

“People’s sentiments have been hurt by the ruling dispensation. This situation has placed a greater responsibility on us. The country is looking towards us. They have great hopes from us. We have to meet the expectations. We cannot turn our face away from our duty. Get ready with a strategy. Let us prepare for the battle ahead,” Mr. Vajpayee said in his message.

Some party leaders saw in this Mr. Vajpayee’s readiness to once again lead the BJP and the National Democratic Alliance coalition. It was also noted by some party leaders that the spirit of the message was quite different from his statement in Mumbai in December 2005 when he signalled his own retirement.

The question of the party’s prime ministerial aspirant has become important as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani, has himself said that by virtue of his position he was the prime minister-in-waiting, Westminster style.

The official formulation on the prime ministerial candidate question was articulated by party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad: “Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani are our tallest leaders. The prime ministerial candidate question will be decided at an appropriate time.”