Transform feel-good into votes, PM tells partners

Even as the AIADMK is yet to formally announce its entry into the NDA, the party joined the coalition’s parliamentary party meeting here today. The Indian National Lok Dal, which is yet to hear the BJP’s final decision on continuing their alliance in Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls, also attended the meeting.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee told his coalition partners that the feel-good factor in favour of the NDA needs to be translated into votes. A confident Vajpayee said he had no doubt the NDA would return to power with a renewed mandate.

Vajpayee stressed that the way his government functioned was an example of how a coalition should be run. ‘‘We have set an example,’’ he said. Vajpayee also lauded NDA convenor George Fernandes for his role in keeping the coalition going. Fernandes, he said, ‘‘has acquired the glitter that gold gets after being passed through fire’’.