The Hindu : Vajpayee will lead BJP in LS polls: Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 15, 2003

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Vajpayee will lead BJP in LS polls: Advani

New York June 14. Reaffirming that there were no differences in the Bharatiya Janata Party on the leadership issue, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, said on Friday that the party would contest the next Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee.

At a gathering of the Indian-American community here, he said, "even in the 2004 elections, the party will return to power under Mr. Vajpayee's leadership." Mr. Advani said, "phir janadesh Vajpayee ji ko hi milega (Mr. Vajpayee will once again get the mandate)". Mr. Vajpayee had provided a stable Government and there had been political stability and development over the past five years.

The gathering was particularly happy when Mr. Advani said that the much-awaited dual citizenship, which applies to foreigners of Indian origin living in certain countries, would become a law by year-end. .

Praise for Sardar Patel

Mr. Advani also paid glowing tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, saying he was solely responsible for the unification of India in the post-Partition period. "(British-ruled) India would have been split into 500 parts — not just two — but for the wisdom and courage shown by Patel," he said. "It's an act of a genius."

"He (Patel) persuaded some, awakened patriotism among others and used force in a few cases," he said amid applause. — UNI

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