NDA meet on Jan 22 to prepare for LS polls

New Delhi, Jan 15: National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents will meet on January 22 at the residence of Leader of Opposition L K Advani to work out a strategy for the coming Lok Sabha elections, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said here today.

Earlier, the BJP's Central Election Management Committee met here this morning. The meet was attended by 14 of the 19 members. Speaking to reporters after the meeting Ms Swaraj, who was chosen by the party to coordinate and laise with the NDA parties, said the mood in the party and NDA was upbeat. The party had taken a lead in projecting Mr Advani as the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate giving head start to the party and the NDA over the Congress and the UPA, she added.

''Our attempt will be to retain this lead in the run upto the elections and thereafter,'' Ms Swaraj said.

Mr Advani will be directly handling the NDA for the first time after NDA Chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed on the baton to Mr Advani on health grounds.

UNI