Advani foresees mid-term elections in early 2008

New Delhi, Sep 5 (UNI) Senior BJP leader L K Advani today said he was expecting mid-term general elections in early 2008 in view of the ''weak'' government which has voluntarily handed over decision-making power to the CPI(M) and other Left parties.

Talking to newspersons, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha described the partnership between the UPA and the Left Parties as ''opportunistic'' as both groups had totally different ideologies and said this partnership would not last its full term and he could foresee mid-term general elections before 2009, ''most probably in early 2008''.

Mr Advani said the NDA had taken exception to the constitution of a ''private committee'' on the nuclear issue when Parliament was in session. It was not the Opposition but the Left Parties which had pre-empted a debate on the Indo-US nuclear energy cooperation -- 123 Agreement. ''We wanted a debate on the issue as early as possible, and privately we were told that it will be held in the first week of the Monsoon session,'' he said.

He criticised the manner the Government bowed to the threat given by the Left Parties that it would withdraw support if the Government went ahead with the nuclear deal and eventually was postponing a debate on the issue in Parliament.

Mr Advani also clarified that the NDA would not have demanded the setting up of a JPC to look into the treaty, had the government stuck to its stand that the executive (Government) alone was entitled to sign any treaty and ignored the Left's threats against the 123 Agreement.

Anticipating early polls, the party had last week held a meeting in which it asked its state units to be ready for mid-term polls.

When asked whether the Opposition would not allow the House to function if their demand for a JPC was not met, Mr Advani said it was to be decided by the Government.

UNI