BJP will emerge victorious in Gujarat, HP polls: Advani

Asserting that the Bharatiya Janta Party will emerge victorious in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls, senior BJP leader L K Advani said the party will win hands down in Gujarat and come back to power under the leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Accompanied by his wife, Advani was among the first voters who braved the morning winter chill and cast his vote for the second phase of Gujarat polls at the Bhardaiyawas Municipal school in Khanpur area of the city this morning.

"In Gujarat, BJP under the leadership of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will get the necessary mandate to form the government," Advani said after casting his franchise.

"I have seen the atmosphere prevailing in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh," he said adding, "in Gujarat BJP will easily get a majority."

Advani said neither anti-incumbency nor dissidence within the BJP ranks in Gujarat will have any effect on the party's performance in the state assembly elections.

"I have not seen any anti-incumbency factor in Gujarat," the former deputy prime minister said.

"Normally anti-incumbency factor is associated more with sitting MLAs and candidates. But BJP has made certain changes (in appointment of the candidates) which will benefit the party", he added.

"Dissidence will also not affect the party in Gujarat", the Leader of Opposition remarked.
"I have cast my vote here and now I will be heading to Himachal Pradesh (HP) where I will be campaigning for the party for about two days," Advani said.

"The elections that will happen in Himachal will also bring a change in the state," he said adding that BJP was set to emerge victorious in HP as well.

"Similar changes have happened in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chattishgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttarakhand," he added.

Advani, who was recently declared as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate said, "the Lok Sabha elections which were to happen in 2009 will now happen in 2008 due to the inability at the Centre".

Courtesy:thehindu.com
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