Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate LK Advani on Friday expressed confidence that his party would emerge the single largest after the polls and form the next government at the centre with its allies.
During a stopover at Bhopal airport, on way to Kolkata from Chennai, Advani told reporters that with four of the five phases of polling over, he had no doubt that the Congress would be much behind the BJP after the elections.
Advani also said that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was ahead of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) according to trends available. "Our alliance too will be ahead of UPA. Thanks to the hard work of our party workers and leaders, due to which the situation as on date is very much in our favour."
The BJP leader reiterated that the NDA lost in 2004 due to "overconfidence" but this time there is no such feeling.
Asked to comment on Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's statement that he would support anybody who dismisses the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh, Advani expressed surprise. He also said that there is no such provision in the constitution and it does not allow the union government to take such a step.
"I am surprised at such a public statement. The constitution does not give any such right to the central government to dismiss a democratically elected government," Advani said. "Such things are against democracy."
{{/usCountry}}"I am surprised at such a public statement. The constitution does not give any such right to the central government to dismiss a democratically elected government," Advani said. "Such things are against democracy."
{{/usCountry}}The BJP leader also rubbished Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's wooing of Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar and said the Bihar chief minister is very much with the NDA. "I am confident of Nitish's friendship. I am sure he will not leave NDA."