NDA allies hail Advani's anointment as BJP's PM candidate

New Delhi, Dec 11 (UNI) Akali Dal and the Biju Janata Dal, two major allies of the BJP in the NDA, today welcomed the anointment of Mr L K Advani as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate while the Janata Dal(U), another key NDA constituent, said it was an internal matter of the saffron party.

While Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal cheered the elevation of Mr Advani ''as a very significant and positive development for country'', BJD chief and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated the former deputy prime minister on his being projected as the BJP's candidate for the post.

Mr Badal said Mr Advani was fully conversant with the problems of the common man and had always displayed singular commitment to finding immediate as well as long-lasting solutions to the various problems facing the country.

Mr Patnaik said, '' The BJP has taken the right decision at the right time.'' Meanwhile, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, though admitting differences of opinion with Mr Advani on many issues, said his party had no objection to the BJP projecting Mr Advani as the Prime Ministerial candidate.

Mr Yadav said the BJP was the biggest constituent of the NDA and it had the right to choose its leader.

JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said being widely accepted second to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the BJP, Mr Advani was a natural choice of the party.

UNI