Vajpayee takes his bow, says India is now richer

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that he had accepted the verdict of the people, even as the National Democratic Alliance ( NDA) lost the 14th Lok Sabha elections, India had won.

"Elections to the 14th Lok Sabha are over. The voters have given their verdict. I accept the verdict. This evening, I submitted my resignation to the respected Rashtrapatiji. India is the world's largest democracy," he said.

He commended Indian democracy saying that it always had the will to decide the fate of the government.

He said that the power of democracy was a matter of pride for India and that it should always be cherished, preserved and strengthened.

"It is always with the will of the people that governments have been formed and changed. This power of democracy is a matter of pride for our country, something which we must always cherish, preserve and further strengthen.

"I thank all of you sincerely for giving me an opportunity to serve the nation as prime minsiter since March 1998. Your goodwill and affection were my greatest source of strength.

"When you gave us the mandate, the nation was faced with the challenge of stability, good governance and development. It is for you "" and history "" to judge what we achieved during this period," he added.

When the NDA came to power, the nation was beset with issues like stability, good governance and development , it was for the people of the country to judge the success of his government, he said.

"I do, however, have the satisfaction that our country is now stronger and more prosperous than when you placed the reigns of office in my hands. India's strides in social and economic development during the past few years have announced her capability as well as resolve to emerge as a developed nation soon. My party and alliance may have lost, but India has won," Vajpayee said.

At the end of its five year rule, the Prime Minister said that India had made significant strides in social and economic development and would soon emerge as a developed nation. Vajpayee said that even if his alliance had lost, it was win for the country.

"Friends, ours is a multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic nation. However, in spite of her immense diversities, our national culture has woven an unbreakable thread of unity since antiquity. We tried to replicate this ethos of unity in diversity in running our coalition government. We strengthened Indian democracy by demonstrating that coalition governance can be stable, and also successfully deal with the challenges before the nation," the former Prime Minister said.

He said that the NDA coalition symbolised the ethos of unity in diversity of the country. He said," we strengthened Indian democracy by demonstrating that coalition governance can be stable, and also successfully deal with the challenges before the nation."

He took pride in saying that his government had successfully reinforced the bonds of national unity and social solidarity. He said that his government was particularly successful in resolving contentious issues through dialogue, in an atmosphere of peace and mutual goodwill.

"We reinforced the bonds of national unity and social solidarity. We laid emphsis on resolving contentious issues through dialogue, in an atmosphere of peace and mutual goodwill," he said.

He expressed his gratitude to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for reposing their faith in democracy and firmly rebuffing the forces of militancy.

"Today, I especially thank the people of Jammu and Kashmir for once again reposing their faith in democracy and for giving a firm rebuff to the forces of militancy. India has shown its resolve and capability to overcome the challenge of cross-border terrorism. India has also embarked on a historic peace process with our neighbour. It will remain my lifelong wish to see that we herald a new chapter of peace, cooperation and friendship in South Asia, with the People's Republic of China and with other nations in the world," he said.

He said that India had shown its resolve and capability to overcome the challenge of cross-border terrorism. The country had also embarked on a historic peace process with its neighbour, Pakistan.

He said : "It will remain my lifelong wish to see that we herald a new chapter of peace, cooperation and friendship in South Asia, with the People's Republic of China and with other nations in the world."

He said that the BJP would be an active opposition by extending cooperation to the new government in its efforts to serve the interest of the nation.

"We have given up office, but not our responsibility to serve the nation. We have lost an election, but not our determination. Victory and defeat are a part of life," the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation.

"Dear countrymen, we have given up office, but not our responsibility to serve the nation. We have lost an election, but not our determination. Victory and defeat are a part of life, which are to be viewed with equanimity.

"We will always extend our hand of cooperation to the new government in all its endeavours that are in the interest of the nation and the people. "I thank you again for all your warm support.