Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has dismissed the talk of a hung Parliament, saying the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) he leads is headed for a 'decisive mandate' in the elections now underway.
Saying that "nobody trusts the Congress party to run a coalition", Vajpayee said the danger of instability, the disarray in opposition ranks and the 'conflicting aspirations' of opposition leaders for the post of prime minister would impel the people to give a decisive mandate to the NDA headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"The question of a hung Parliament will not arise at all. The people are well aware of the cost the country will have to pay on account of political instability," Vajpayee said in the interview conducted at his 7, Race Course Road official residence.
The Prime Minister attributed the emergence of coalitions to the "steep decline and continued shrinking of the Congress party, which once enjoyed supremacy both at the centre and in most states.
"This process has led to the growth of several regional parties on the one hand and, on the other, BJP's emergence as the single largest party at the centre. In this era of coalitions, the polarisation is between the BJP and the Congress."
{{/usCountry}}"This process has led to the growth of several regional parties on the one hand and, on the other, BJP's emergence as the single largest party at the centre. In this era of coalitions, the polarisation is between the BJP and the Congress."
{{/usCountry}}However, there is one crucial difference between the two poles, Vajpayee elaborated. "Nobody trusts the Congress party to run a coalition, whereas we have already demonstrated both our faith and ability in this regard."
Asked if he foresaw the possibility of any, including the BJP, coming to power in New Delhi on its own strength, Vajpayee said simply: "At the moment, we are only focused on the current elections, and our goal is to get a decisive mandate for the NDA."
Read the full text of the interview