BJP foresees political re-alignment after elections

Denying that the NDA has weakened with the Janata Dal-United pulling out, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has predicted a re-alignment of political forces before and after the next Lok Sabha election.

Senior BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu hopes that political parties opposed to the Congress would join hands with the BJP.

"There was a similar situation earlier. When elections came close and elections were over, 23 parties joined hands with us. Today BJP may cross 200 (seats in Lok Sabha). In that case, you will see which parties join us," he told reporters here Tuesday.

"I don't want to take names but the parties which are opposed to the Congress will support the BJP," he said when asked if he was hopeful of JD-U coming back to the NDA fold.

Naidu said it was ridiculous that the proponents of the Federal Front were counting as allies parties which are not allies of BJP.

"How can the parties which are opposing each other in different states join the same front?" he asked.

Denying that the BJP was going back to Hindutva, he said the party's agenda in the coming election would be speedy development. Asked about Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's proposed visit to Ayodhya, he said he would be there to take part in a programme.

The BJP leader said the JD-U had not made clear the reasons for severing ties with the BJP.

"There is something more than what meets the eye," he said, pointing out that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had praised Modi in 2003.

He said people were tired of hearing about secularism and communalism, and said they desired development.