Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday said the opposition would try to vitiate the atmosphere following the Bharatiya Janata Party's resounding victory in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh elections.

"The opposition cannot face the defeat in the assembly elections... So we should be careful," BJP spokesperson V K Malhotra quoted him as saying at the parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi.

The PM said at the meeting, which was attended by the three newly sworn-in chief ministers of the three states, that the party's victories had brought about a change in the country's political atmosphere.

He told the CMs they should try to immediately provide basic amenities, including adequate power and water, to the masses.

Vajpayee also told BJP members of Parliament to start preparing for next year's general election.

Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani said at the meeting that the assembly polls would boost the morale of the party.

Party president M Venkaiah Naidu said it was "shameful" that the Congress was indulging in all kinds of tactics in Chhattisgarh to retain power.

He said, "After the success of Operation 2003, our next aim should be Mission 2004 and win 300 seats in the Lok Sabha and work towards the NDA getting two-thirds majority."