Date:23/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/23/stories/2007122357480300.htm

New Delhi

Gujarat, Himachal victories would boost the party: Advani

Staff Reporter

Senior BJP leader felicitated by city party workers

Photo: S. Subramanium

Offering sweets: Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani being felicitated by Vijay Goel in New Delhi on Saturday on being projected as party’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader L. K. Advani said here on Saturday that victories in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh would “prove to be a turning point for the party yet again”.

Addressing a large number of party workers led by former Union Minister Vijay Goel who had come to felicitate him on being projected as the party’s next Prime Ministerial candidate, he said the BJP in 1984 had only two members in the Lok Sabha and it was then that in the Palampur session of the BJP in Himachal Pradesh the party decided to pursue the Ram Mandir movement with vigour in view of the fact that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had pursued the Somnath temple rebuilding with success.

That proved beneficial to the party and in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections it had a tally of over 80 MPs, Mr. Advani said. Thereafter there was no looking back and the party kept gaining in strength.

Now with the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elections once again expected to show the party in good light, Mr. Advani said, a major challenge lay before the workers as the UPA Government at the Centre – “which has failed to live up to the aspirations of the people” -- would not complete its term and mid-term polls are on the cards.

He thanked the party leaders and workers for reposing faith in him and projecting him as the next Prime Ministerial candidate.

Earlier, Mr. Goel described the former Deputy Prime Minister as a leader who led by example. He said when named in the alleged “hawala” racket, Mr. Advani promptly resigned and returned to active politics only after he was absolved of the blame.

Mr. Goel also spoke about the role played by Mr. Advani against the imposition of Emergency, and in taking the Ram Mandir movement forward. He said he hoped Mr. Advani would become the next Prime Minister of India.