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BJP, allies, form national democratic front

© Imtiaz Maqbool

The BJP and its allies have decided to form a 'National Democratic Front' with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as its chairman.

This was decided at a meeting of the BJP coordination committee where all those who had supported the confidence motion in Parliament were invited.

The meeting also set up a four-member manifesto committee headed by BJP leader L K Advani, which will draft a common manifesto for the front, coordination committee convenor George Fernandes announced at a news conference in Delhi today.

The meeting, presided over by Vajpayee, also authorised Advani to co-opt any other member who wanted to be included in the manifesto committee.

Fernandes said the National Democratic Alliance will have a separate office in the capital, besides the state capitals. .

It was decided to launch joint campaigns all over the country before August to highlight the Vajpayee government's achievements. All the partners will share the platform. A detailed programme is being chalked out, he said.

The next meeting of the coordination committee will be held in Delhi on June 9. The manifesto will be finalised at a two-day meeting on July 10 and 11, he said.

Replying to questions, Fernandes said seat sharing was not discussed at today's meeting. The proposed manifesto will be ''different'' to the extent that the earlier National Agenda for Governance was prepared after the elections. ''Now we are drafting the manifesto before the elections. Some of the programmes, which could not be fulfilled will also find place in the new manifesto and more issues will be reflected'', he said.

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