Now Advani strikes poll iron saying Assembly results hot

‘‘By and large it is correct to state that the results of the recent Assembly elections have had their effect beyond these states. The economic situation has created a feel-good factor.’’

‘‘If these two reasons are combined, then it looks early elections can be good. But the pros and cons have to be seen and a decision will be taken only after due deliberation with BJP’s allies,’’ Advani said.

He was accompanied by BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan who has a good equation with Thackeray.

The Shiv Sena chief echoed Advani’s views, saying his party was in favour of early Lok Sabha polls. ‘‘Advaniji’s views are my views,’’ Thackeray said. At this, Advani said he would convey it to the Prime Minister.

‘‘The main issue is the fixing of the timing for early polls,’’ he said after the meeting, also attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi. To a query on whether there was not much of a challenge to the NDA, Advani said ‘‘the general assessment is that NDA can reasonably be confident of renewing its mandate for five years’’.

On questions whether any efforts would be made to bring back DMK and MDMK which have withdrawn from the NDA and pulled out their ministers, he said: ‘‘they are not practically in the NDA right now’’.

Sena sources confirmed that ‘‘Balasaheb is also keen on early polls to encash the anti-incumbency factor. With the Telgi issue emerging as the biggest embarassment for the Democratic Front government, he wants to strike while it’s hot.’’.