Addressing a public meeting at the Nutan Vidyalaya grounds in Gulbarga, marking the launch of the BJP's poll campaign in the State, Advani dwelt at length on the Kargil battle against Pakistan and the subsequent ``military and diplomatic victory'' for the Vajpayee Government. He said the Kargil war had ``electrified the election scene'' across the country and the people had decided to give a clear mandate for the BJP coalition under the leadership of Vajpayee.

For Advani, the day began at Hubli where he addressed a press conference. After that he left for Bagalkot and Gulbarga where he addressed public meetings and went on to Bidar. In Hubli, Advani told newspersons that the government had taken a very serious view of the ISI's threat of disruptingelections. He said the Home Secretary had already had a meeting with top security and police officials in New Delhi and had even identified the various areas where the ISI is suspected to have set up its network.

Security has been intensified in these areas. At the Bagalkot public meeting he spoke at length on Indo-Pak ties. He said while India was ready for friendship with Pakistan, it was, at the same time, also prepared for war. The Pokhran nuclear tests, Advani added, had given the Government the confidence to face any confrontation with Pakistan.

Advani then reached Gulbarga by a chartered helicopter along with Union Civil Aviation Minister Anant Kumar. There was a moderate crowd waiting for him, and Advani ended up devoting a major part of his half-an-hour-long speech to Kargil.

Speaking on the BJP's primary election rival, the Home Minister said the banner of revolt against Sonia Gandhi's leadership and the subsequent split in the party had proved beneficial to the BJP.

``The Congress must beregretting now for delaying the Lok Sabha polls. The move engineered by Sharad Pawar had dealt a severe blow to the Congress and its leadership. The subsequent Kargil victory nailed the coffin of the Congress,'' Advani said.

Conceding that credit for the Kargil victory should first go to the brave jawans, Advani pointed out that Vajpayee's leadership and the bold decisions taken by his government played a major role too. ``The credit for Kargil victory should naturally go the the Vajpayee Government,'' Advani added.

Advani said when Indira Gandhi's government won the Bangladesh war against Pakistan in 1971, Vajpayee, who was then Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, had showered praise on her. ``But today the Congress is envious of the victory of this government. It keeps on finding fault with the government even during the time of war. This has not gone well with the people,'' Advani said.