Vajpayee meets President
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 28 — In a significant development, Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee,tonight called on the President, Mr K.R. Narayanan.

Mr Vajpayee drove down to Rashtrapati Bhavan immediately after holding consultations with the BJP President, Mr Kushabhau Thakre, the Samata Party President, Mr George Fernandes, the Lok Shakti President, Mr R.K. Hegde, and the Akali Dal leader, Mr Surjit Singh Barnala.

It is not known as what transpired during the meeting between the President and the Prime Minister.

Earlier in a desperate bid to wrest the initiative the Prime Minister had ruled out a change of government at the Centre stating that the BJP and its allies would prove their majority on the floor of the Lok Sabha during the coming session of Parliament. "The results in the Assembly elections are so far against our expectations, These will, however, not affect our strength in the Lok Sabha to say that the Government at the Centre should be changed is meaningless", the Prime Minister told newspersons after inaugurating a conference on housing.

"We will demonstrate our majority on the floor of the House", Mr Vajpayee said.

When asked whether the allies would part ways with the BJP after the dismal electoral performance, the Prime Minister said "all the allies are with us. We expect their total cooperation".

Whether the government was ready to face the Opposition onslaught in Parliament in a possible trial of strength, Mr Vajpayee said "we are prepared to face all challenges".

Conceding that the election results so far had taken the BJP by surprise, Mr Vajpayee quipped saying "even our rivals (the Congress) are surprised (at their electoral performance)".

Asked about the main reason for the people going against the BJP, Mr Vajpayee said "they wanted a change and that has happened".

On the BJP’s poor showing in Madhya Pradesh where it had expected to defeat the ruling Congress, Mr Vajpayee said: "We thought that the anti-incumbency factor will operate in our favour, but that has not happened."

On the meeting between the allies and the Prime Minister, Mr Barnala said it was not a panic reaction. "The election results in Delhi and Rajasthan are on expected lines but Madhya Pradesh has surprised us", he said.

PM consults party leaders

NEW DELHI, Nov 28 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today held a series of meetings with senior BJP leaders and those of its allies to review the situation as the results of the elections to four state assemblies indicating a setback for the BJP were trickling in.

With meetings of the BJP Parliamentary Board, executive of the parliamentary party and allies scheduled for tomorrow, Mr Vajpayee took stock of the situation with Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, Food Minister S S Barnala and BJP president Kushabhau Thakre.

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj also met Mr Vajpayee to discuss the trends in the Delhi Assembly elections where reports said the party was trailing behind the Congress.

CPM asks Cong to stake claim

New Delhi, Nov 28 (PTI) — The CPM today said the assembly election results a were referendum against the Vajpayee government and asked the Congress to take initiative in the formation of an alternative government at the Centre.

"This government has lost credibility to rule," CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury said, adding "we have made our position clear. In case this government falls, we will give issue-based support to the Congress".

On the proposed third force, Mr Yechury said on a private TV network: "It will definitely come into action fast. This election has shown the need for a third force."

Asked if the new front would take support of RLM leaders Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav, he said "Mulayam yes, but not Laloo".

RJD winning in Bihar

PATNA, Nov 28 (UNI) — The ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its ally, the CPM, were ahead of its rivals in all four assembly constituencies where byelections were held in Bihar.

According to the state election office here, the RJD candidates were leading in Sheohar, Koderma and Adapur constituencies, while the CPM was leading in Purnea.

Sushma resigns

NEW DELHI, Nov 28 (PTI) — Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj tonight submitted her resignation following the BJP's debacle in the assembly poll.

Ms Swaraj submitted her resignation to Lt-Governor Vijay Kapoor at his residence here.