Bihar 8212; PM urges more unity among NDA allies

PATNA, FEBRUARY 6: Aware of the fragility of National Democratic Alliance NDA in Bihar, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee has called for great...

PATNA, FEBRUARY 6: Aware of the fragility of National Democratic Alliance NDA in Bihar, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee has called for greater cohesiveness and has asked the alliance leaders to go in for joint electioneering.

Well-placed sources reveal that the PM, who had taken the initiative to thrash out the differences amongst the Samata SP, JDU and the BJP on the sharing as well as identification of seats, is not happy at the way the electioneering has been launched by the constituents.

He had earlier instructed the NDA leaders to present a united fight to uproot the RJD regime. However, sources say, Vajpayee is irked at the fact that they have not yet evolved any centralised mechanism to monitor the campaigning.

With a total 324 constituencies going to polls, it is not physically possible for NDA leaders to campaign jointly in all places. But, the leaders feel that there should be some sort of centralised body which would coordinate the programmes of all the leaders. Also, efforts should be madeto ensure that at least two leaders of two parties visit the areas jointly.

Much against Vajpayee8217;s wishes, the tour itinery of the leaders reveals that the BJP has opted for JDU leader Ram Vilas Paswan to campaign for it, while SP leader Nitish Kumar has been pursuing his own separate programme. Baring one programme where he will join Union Home Minister L K Advani at Gaya, so far he has addressed all the election meetings with his own partymen.

Interestingly, the BJP is giving credence to BPP leader Anand Mohan, but is not quite willing to go in for joint campaigning with Nitish Kumar.

Besides, the constituents are mainly concentrating on their own areas and campaigning for their respective candidates. The BJP ideologue, Govindacharya, has also expressed himself in favour of setting up of a central mechanism to coordinate the campaigning by the senior leaders.

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Any NDA CM will be better than Rabri 8212; Paswan
MUNGER: Union Communications Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday said anychief ministerial candidate of the NDA would be better than incumbent Rabri Devi. Replying to RJD chief Laloo Yadav8217;s demand that the NDA announce the name of its chief ministerial candidate, Paswan said: 8220;There is no need to give an answer8221; to Laloo. 8220;But I think whoever becomes the next CM will be better than Rabri Devi,8221; he added.