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February 9, 1998

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Sonia's campaign has revived Congress fortunes, admits Advani



Bharatiya Janata Party president L K Advani on Monday admitted that Sonia Gandhi's entry into the Congress campaign had definitely infused life into that party and made it a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress in the current election.

He, however, asserted that the BJP and its allies would get a clear and comfortable majority and a coalition government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee would assume office at the Centre in March.

Addressing a press conference, Advani said it was a one-horse race some time back. None of the parties were in the race but now there was some change in the situation after Sonia's hectic campaign, he said.

The BJP president said the change was, however, good for the BJP as this would not allow its cadre to become over-confident and complacent. He referred to the last UP assembly election in which the party was over-confident and therefore could not achieve a clear majority.

Advani said the crowds at Sonia's meetings were not indicative of a Congress victory. Leaders of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh used to draw unprecedented crowds at their election meetings but a majority of them lost their deposits, he said.

Referring to reports that he may become deputy prime minister if a BJP government were to assume office at the Centre, Advani said there was no need to have such a post. "I am not in favour of the post of deputy prime minister," he declared.

Asked whether he would accept the post or become a minister in the Vajpayee ministry, Advani said, "I have no objection in serving under him. Vajpayee is my political senior."

Turning to Bofors, Advani said fear of revelation of the identity of the beneficiary in the arms deal pay-off was the main reason for the Congress withdrawing support to the Gujral government.

Advani said the Congress could not afford revelation of the identity of the account holder who had received money transferred from Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi's Swiss account.

"Once this information is revealed, the identity of the real beneficiary of the Bofors commission would have become known. It was because of this that the government was pulled down. This untimely general election was the last desperate throw of a gambler's dice," he said.

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