‘I am the president. Vajpayee, Advani are leaders of the party. They are above me’

You have declared that the BJP is in election mode...

Chances are very high for an early election. The CPM will not compromise on the nuclear deal issue and the Government is set to fall.

You are claiming to be ready for elections but isn’t the BJP struggling to stand on its feet?

We are ready for the battle. Our ongoing programme — “BJP at every polling booth” — is a huge success. In some states it has already achieved 100 per cent success. For instance, in Gujarat.

But in UP, your home state, things are really bad for the BJP. Why?

I admit that we are not as strong as we used to be. But things have improved from the time of Assembly elections. Parliament elections will be vastly different from the Assembly one. I don’t think the Brahmins have joined the BSP permanently. They will come back. The Scheduled Caste base of the BSP is eroding already.

There are minor issues with the Shiv Sena, but by and large the NDA alliance is intact and it will expand before the elections. We will have new partners.

Will the next elections be won by a Third Front Government of some sorts, given that regional parties and the Left are moving closer?

It is not possible to say anything definite at this point. The conflicts within the so-called Third Front parties are such that they cannot sustain.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, your ally, has said A B Vajpayee should be the PM candidate of the alliance. Do you think Vajpayee was more helpful in winning allies for the BJP?

The only thing that I will say on the question of leadership is that there is no confusion within the BJP on the issue.

But there is a lot of confusion outside the BJP on the issue. Will you indeed declare a PM candidate when the polls are announced?

I told you, there is no confusion in the party.

As president, are you the leader of the party?

I am the president. A B Vajpayee and L K Advani are the leaders of the party.

... contd.