Parties ready for endgame

MANDATE 2004

SP, BSP rules out any tie-up with BJP in Government formation.

In the backdrop of the not-so-encouraging exit poll predictions, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders met here for a review of the scenario after which it put up a brave face claiming a "comfortable majority" in the Lok Sabha while the Congress asserted that along with allies and Left parties it was heading for a "clear majority".

The exit poll results after the second phase yesterday also prompted other parties to declare their post-poll positions with the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party ruling out any tie-up with the BJP in government formation.

In the wake of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement that his party had identical views with the Samajwadi Party on many issues, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said his party would "never support" the BJP in forming a government and do everything to prevent it from coming to power.

The Left parties said an "alternative secular" government would be in place after the elections and the question of its leadership would be decided at that time.

"There is no need for thinking about post-poll alliances. We are confident of getting a comfortable majority. We don't believe in the philosophy of untouchability," BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters after the review meeting.

Naidu parried questions on the possibility of tying up with the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party after the elections.

An internal BJP survey claimed that along with allies the party would secure 83 of the 136 seats that went to polls yesterday but admitted it was under pressure in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.