BJP speaks of introspection as party is routed in UP

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) As Bahujan Samaj Party marches to a majority in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP which was hoping to play a key role in the polity of the country's most politically sensitive state today admitted that there was a need for an introspection at a time when important challenges were lying ahead in Gujarat and Goa states.

The BJP whose current strength was depleted by at least 40 seats in the home state of its party President Rajnath Singh said the loss certainly was an issue that needed introspection after its successes in Uttarakhand, Punjab and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

The demand for an indepth introspection came from former Union Minister and BJP's star campaigner Shatrughan Sinha who alleged that the intra-party feud had cost the party heavily. The BJP Parliamentary Board is scheduled to assess the poll outcome this evening.

Much meaning is read into non-participation of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the campaign except addressing a meeting at Lucknow, his hometown. The party also chose to use its Brahmin leaders like Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and Kalraj Mishra to the barest minimum possible resulting in a backlash. Even some important meetings were cancelled resulting in sending a wrong message among its voters.

Dr Joshi himself did not agree that he was ignored in the elections and said he went and campaigned wherever he was asked. He however felt that a 'little more focus' was needed on election issues and there was less coordination.

The issue in the polls was who would replace Mulayam Singh Yadav and keep his musclemen under check and this is where BSP seemed to have scored, he told a TV channel.

On his part, Mr Sinha alleged the party had under-utilised Leader of Opposition L K Advani in the polls and the organisational machinery was in a state of disarray.

BJP Spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy did not agree with Mr Sinha's comments and said it was more of a film rhetoric but declared the party will have to introspect the results. Asked if BJP had laid needlessly strong emphasis on Hindutva, he said the stress was on corruption and misgovernance of the Mulayam Singh government and the mandate was certainly against the SP.

UNI