Vajpayee exhorts cadre to be ready for mid-term poll

Bhopal, Sep 21 (UNI) Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today called upon the partymen to be ready for a mid-term election in view of the instability at the Centre and possibility of this government not completing its term.

In a message sent from Delhi to the BJP National Executive which began its three-day sitting here today, Mr Vajpayee, who could not make it to the meeting because of bad health, said,'' the people are looking at us with great expectations. We have to come up to their expectations and shoulder our responsibility towards the nation which is passing through a critical phase.

This forum can be utilised to unitedly introspect and draw a strategy to face the challenges. I am confident we will succeed in our endeavour," he said in the message in Hindi.

Mr Vajpayee said the executive was being held at a very crucial time when there was instability and uncertainty at the Centre. The nation's communal harmony seems to be under threat with the ruling parties, out of frustration, hurting the sentiments of the people.

''Our responsibility towards the nation increases in this scenario,'' he said.

The former Prime Minister regretted that he could not make it to the Executive meeting as advised by the doctors and apologised for being absent.

Ending his message with a poem, he asked the cadre to rededicate themselves to work tirelessly and accomplish their goal (wrest power at the Centre).

UNI