Replying to a question at a media conference in Bangalore on Sunday morning, Advani said there was no need to project anyone as the chief ministerial candidate right now. The issue of chief ministership was a major bone of contention between BJP and the JD (U) in State.

He also made it clear that it was Ramakrishna Hegde who was the leader of the Janata Dal (U) in Karnataka and `none else'. Justifying the JD (U) alliance with the BJP in Karnataka, Advani admitted that he had reservations about JD (U) becoming a part of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) because of the way the JD leaders conducted themselves during the confidence motion moved by Vajpayee in the last Lok Sabha.

However, the he had agreed to the tie-up for strengthening the hands ofVajpayee. The seat-sharing formula between the BJP and the JD(U) has been resolved and JD (U) spokesman M Raghupathy met him in the morning and assured that his party candidates would retire from contest in favour of BJP candidates.

On JD (U) becoming part of NDA, he said the bipolar polity situation had led every group in the Janata party to go either with the BJP, which was the true inheritor of the Jayaprakash Narayan legacy, of becoming the palanquin-bearer of the Congress. This is evident from the irony which Jaipal Reddy faced now, he said.

About the Congress projecting Sonia Gandhi as the next Prime Minister, he observed that every Indian realises that her (Sonia's) knowledge of public issues was next to nil. She was not in tune with the ethos of this country besides being unfamiliar with it's problems.

On the Bellary Lok Sabha seat, he said his party had already achieved a psychological victory. The Congress wanted to spring a surprise by fielding Sonia Gandhi from Bellary. But what happenedafter that had surprised the Congress itself. The Congress leaders in Delhi were totally downcast after what happened following Gandhi's filing of papers from Bellary, Advani added.

Earlier, addressing meetings at Chennapatna and Tumkur near Bangalore, he urged the voters to elect the BJP with a thumping majority. ``Congressmen have been spending sleepless nights ever since Sushma Swaraj filed her nominations for Bellary Lok Sabha seat. You have to go to the Congress office at New Delhi to see how scared they are,'' he said.

Addressing a mammoth public rally late Sunday evening at Bellary, where Sushma Swaraj is pitted against Sonia, he suggested a live debate between the two on Doordarshan. ``But on one condition -- they must either speak in Hindi or English, no Kannada or Italian will do.'' he said.

Advani also said the handling of Kargil war by Vajapayee had raised the respect of India internationally and the entire world stood by India -- something that never happened during the times of Nehru,Sashtri or Indira. No doubt it were the jawans who won the war but it was Vajapayee who gave the direction and leadership for the successfull completion of war.

Chief Minister J H Patel, who was at his wittiest best, said Sonia does not know the summer of Bellary and if she stays for one month she will lose her colour.

Sushma Swaraj started her speech in Kannada and used plenty of Kannada sentences throughout her speech. She said it was like fighting a historic election and the second freedom struggle.

Lok Shakti leader Ramakrishna Hegde made it clear that NDA was not a communal outfit and that the anti-propaganda launched by Congress was baseless. If people elect Sonia, it would be the saddest day in the history of the country, he added.