BJP will win 60 seats in UP: PM

Development most important political message: Vajpayee

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee dismissed suggestions that there was no "feel good factor" in Uttar Pradesh and expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be able to achieve its "target" of winning 60 seats despite "complicated politics" because there won't be a direct fight between the BJP and its adversaries in the state.

At a press conference in his constituency (lucknow), the Prime Minister had a word of advice for everyone. He asked the BJP to consider the merits of "taking everyone along" that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had practised with so much success.

He said the Assembly elections proved that development as an issue was the most important political mantra.

People had tested their governments on the basis of their achievements in the fields of roads, power and water as also other issues which affected their day-to-day life.

"Despite political rivalry, the people have now come to a belief that problems could be resolved only through the democratic process and this was the best way," he said. In this context he said the Ram temple was not a political issue but one of emotions.

The Prime Minister also advised people not to link cricket with Kashmir.

In reply to a question on growing opposition charging the BJP with developing a personality cult around him, the Prime Minister said, "I have not become any cult. We (in the BJP) work together and no one individual takes decisions."

About slogans like "Atalji ka naam, Atalji ka kaam (Vajpayee's name and achievements)," he said "no, the party is not saying so". The slogan mentioned was incomplete, he added without elaborating.

Vajpayee parried a question on the remarks of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal that the "feel good" factor was restricted to the English-speaking people and had not benefited people. "I have nothing to say on it".

To a question whether his party would favour the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party for a tie-up in UP, he said, "When the time comes you will know".

Later, while inaugurating a sub-centre of the Sports Authority of India, Vajpayee said: "A decision was taken to improve relations with Pakistan and the proposed cricket matches there will play an important role in this direction."

However, he said, "match aur Kashmir samasya ko saath saath na jorein (match and the Kashmir problem should not be linked to each other)."

When asked what would follow the cricket series, he replied, "We shall tell you this after the series."

At the SAI sub-centre, Vajpayee said all steps had been taken to remove security concerns of the cricketers during the Pakistan tour and further measures, if needed, would also be taken in future.

He said the best wishes of all the countrymen would be with the Indian cricketers touring Pakistan. "When sportsmen play on the field, the whole nation stands behind them."

Vajpayee said he often watched cricket matches, but found that despite playing well, the team lost some times.

"There is a need to develop the mentality for winning and go full strength into the game," he said. Vajpayee said in the 10th Five-Year Plan, allocation for sports had been hiked five times.

He said besides science and geography, sports had helped in bringing the world and together therefore, the country should not lag behind in this field.

In present times, sporting disciplines were playing an important role in determining ties among nations, the Prime Minister said while underlining the need for better training so that players could imbibe the fighting spirit and win.