| The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) today endorsed leader of Opposition LK Advani as its prime ministerial candidate for the next general elections. |
| The resolution was moved by alliance convenor George Fernandes and passed unanimously at a meeting attended by top alliance leaders, various legislative party leaders and the chief ministers of NDA-ruled states. Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress was not represented. "We were told that Dinesh Trivedi would be attending. We are yet to be told why he could not or perhaps would not attend," said BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj. |
| The meeting was ostensibly called to discuss the NDA's battle-readiness for the coming polls in nine states and the general elections. For this, the alliance decided to work towards a "National Agenda for Governance" on the lines of the one formulated in 1999, when the NDA was formed. Advani told the group that the three main parameters of the agenda would be good governance, development and internal security. |
| This means the BJP's core issues, a uniform civil code, abolition of Article 370 and building of a Ram temple in Ayodhya will again be abandoned in favour of a workable alliance capable of forming government at the Centre. A meeting of the NDA chief ministers will be held soon to define other areas of good governance. |
| Swaraj said the NDA chief ministers complained of discrimination by the UPA government at the Centre. "They will meet again and prepare a document detailing the ways in which the NDA governments have been discriminated against, whether it be grain allocation in Chhattisgarh or flood relief in Bihar," she said. |
| Talking about former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's nomination for Bharat Ratna,Swaraj said, "There are no ideological differences between the party and its allies." On why the RSS mouthpiece suggested that Bhagat Singh be given the award, she said, "There is no difference in position, the RSS has not said that." |
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