Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Tuesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party favours early Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in Mumbai, Advani said the BJP's recent successes in assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, coupled with the feeling of economic well-being prevailing in the country, have created an atmosphere conducive for the National Democratic Alliance to return to power at the Centre.

Advani, however, said the party will consult all its NDA allies before its executive meets in Hyderabad on January 11-12 next year to take a decision.

Advani said he will apprise Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the discussion he had with Thackeray. He added that the process of ascertaining the views of other allies is on.

Advani and Thackeray had a closed-door meeting at the mayor's bungalow at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai at 1230 IST.

Advani, who arrived in the city on Monday, was accompanied by BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan.
 
The deputy PM was scheduled to meet Thackeray at the latter's residence, but the venue was changed at the last
minute.