Naidu for simultaneous polls

Despite Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's assertion that the Lok Sabha polls will be held on schedule, a section of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders seems to be buoyed following the statement attributed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu that he favoured simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly in the state.

After his meeting with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani today, Naidu said he would like the Assembly polls to be held before March 17 because school examinations would start after that.

Contrary to the perception that Naidu wants to avoid simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly to avoid double anti-incumbency (the central government and the state government) factor, the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) chief's preference for simultaneous polls is being seen as an indication of the changing political equations in the state.

Though Naidu said he did not discuss the issue with Vajpayee and Advani, the indications are that Naidu's view found endorsement from a section of the BJP.

Naidu later had a luncheon meeting with BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu with whom he is learnt to have developed a rapport.

The Andhra chief minister's statement is being seen as a reflection of some senior BJP leaders' wishes, who believe the feel good factor after the party's victory in three states will be dissipated if the Lok Sabha elections are not advanced.

Also Naidu will not be able to take advantage of the sympathy wave created after the assassination attempt on him by naxalites.

Senior BJP leaders say a setback for the TDP in Andhra Pradesh will neutralise the euphoria in the NDA created by the recent Assembly elections and set the clock back for the BJP.

"This Assembly elections are crucial for the BJP," BJP sources said. In case of simultaneous polls, the BJP could galvanise its cadre, he added.

But Naidu is also aware of the aversion among top leaders in the government to advance the Lok Sabha polls.

This appears to have prompted him to set his house in order and demand 15,000 metric tonnes of rice to ensure proper supply of foodgrain on the eve of polls. He has also sought deployment of additional central forces.

But some BJP leaders believe that the party is not ready for elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It has been suggested that the BJP should make attempts to telescope the Lok Sabha election process with the Budget - present a good Budget and follow it by snap polls. This way the BJP will maximise its gains, they add.

This argument, however, has been shot down by the top BJP leadership. "You can either have an early Budget or early Lok Sabha elections. To have an April-May election, you have to make up your mind by the end of December, call a session around January 15 to pass a Budget and immediately after that dissolve the House. Is this possible? The Budget takes time to be passed. Now with the standing committees system, it has to be considered by them.

"Second, the next Budget is going to be in the new calendar year. There is a parliamentary rule that a new session begins with the President's address. Third, you can not just summon the Election Commission in January and say you want elections three months later. The poll panel has to be given time to prepare," said a top party leader.

Sources said the party too had to be prepared for elections.