BJP's faithChief Minister of Delhi Saheb Singh Verma was brimming with confidence about BJP's good fortune in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. "We would change the whole complexion of the country if voted to power," he said while a press conference on Monday. The BJP leader with salt-and-pepper beard claimed that the BJP would garner 300 seats and form the government at the Centre. What's more, all the seven LS seats in Delhi and six in Mumbai will fall in the BJP basket, according to Verma.
On the Uttar Pradesh imbroglio, the Delhi CM felt, "Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav is in a no-win situation while Bahujan Samaj Party's Kashi Ram is sure to be defeated. Other parties have so far given enough hints that they will all join hands to defeat the BJP."
Apparently the party's prospects have brightened in south too. BJP's star candidate actress Gautami Tadimalla, informed that the perception of people in the south about the BJP has changed a lot since the 1996 polls.
"The BJP shouldbe given a chance to form the government for a full five-year term. We deserve a better India where everyone's rights is safeguarded."
On her party's alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu, she said, "We have made it very clear that this is for seat adjustments," but refused to comment on Jayalalitha.
Manmohan as PM
Former finance minister Manmohan Singh, scheduled to arrive tonight, is likely to be presented to the city's business elite as the Man of Their Future.
Ostensibly Dr Singh is on a visit to persuade people on why it is necessary to vote for the Congress, he is also expected to be repackaged before the business community as a possible future prime minister in the event of a Congress-led government at the Centre.
Sonia Gandhi's repeated assurance to the people that the next Congress leader would be "honest, courageous and people-oriented" points to Singh, according to many Congressmen who have heard her make the same statement in Calcutta and New Delhi. She repeated it in Mumbai onSunday.
Singh will also address a rally of party workers at the Azad maidan headquarters on Tuesday, which will be presided by Brihanmumbai Regional Congress Committee president Murli Deora.
BSP support to Rao
The Bahujan Samaj Party has declared support to Sharad Rao, union leader and Janata Dal's candidate from south-central parliamentary constituency. In a press release on Monday, the working president (Mumbai) Dilip Lokhande stated that the Sena-BJP government had withdrawn almost all cases lodged under Atrocity Act in which the victims were from backward castes. The BSP has also alleged that the state government avoided recruitment and promotions of BC candidates which is a violation of the reservation rules.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
