I'm here to stay as coalition chief: Atal

Unveiling the NDA manifesto Prime Minister Vajpayee said he would continue to be the NDA leader.

Prime Minister A B Vajpayee on Thursday unveiled the NDA agenda for "development, good governance and peace" for the next five years and made it clear that he would continue to be the leader of the coalition. The manifesto included disputed issues like Ayodhya in a watered down form.

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Vajpayee took the opportunity to make things clear about his future at a press conference that followed the release of the NDA agenda. He was asked about his recent comment in Lucknow that he could not have occupied the top slot without deputy L K Advani's go-ahead and his earlier remark that the party wanted to move forward under Advani's leadership. "It is not the time for me to leave," he said.

The NDA agenda reflected the BJP's dominance. Marking a departure from the 1998 and 1999 elections, when the alliance had put Ayodhya, Article 370 and Uniform Civil Code on the back burner, the NDA agenda this time said an early and amicable solution of the Ram temple issue would strengthen national integration. It also spoke of a central law for a ban on cow slaughter.

Defending the inclusion of the Ayodhya issue, Vajpayee said the building of Ram temple at Ayodhya was "a public and national issue" and the NDA would not make it a poll plank.

The NDA agenda also reiterated the coalition's earlier commitment to introduce legislation to ensure that important offices could be occupied only by those who were citizens by birth — as a principled position.

NDA convenor George Fernandes said no one could object to the stand on Ayodhya as it only said an early and amicable resolution of the issue would strengthen national integration.

Vajpayee did not rule out post-election alliances, saying the NDA would discuss the matter if a new party wanted to come into its fold.

On the development front, the NDA charter mentioned steps to end the water crisis, boost housing, and control population. The NDA also promised to push up growth to 10 per cent, and speed up financial, pension and tax reforms.

The TDP, a key NDA ally, said, however, that it had no knowledge that the Ram temple issue would be included in the agenda. Party chief Chandrababu Naidu said the issue should be resolved either through consensus or a court verdict.

(With agency inputs)