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BJP, allies agree on common agenda

There was complete unanimity between the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies on political and economic issues to be included in the national agenda for the coalition government that is expected to be sworn in the next few days, BJP leader Jaswant Singh said today.

''No contentious issues'' figured at the two-hour long meeting, which was attended by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Jaswant Singh and leaders of allied parties, except the Trinamul Congress, which today organised a protest rally against the CPI-M rule in West Bengal.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, Singh said, ''A final and conclusive meeting will be held on March 14.'' However, he said it may be advanced if the government is formed before this date.

AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha, who earlier had lunch with Advani and Vajpayee, also attended the meeting.

Others present at the meeting were Lok Shakti leader Ramakrishna Hegde, Akali Dal leader Surjeet Singh Barnala, Haryana Chief Minister Bansi Lal, Samata Party chief George Fernandes, Shiv Sena representative Madhukar Sarpotdar and Tamil Rajiv Congress leader V Ramamurthy.

Asked about the formation of the coordination committee, Singh said it will come through once the President invites Vajpayee to form the government.

He said besides the national agenda, the meeting also discussed issues of government formation and the constitution of Parliament. It was decided that a broad policy perspective within a definite time-frame.

The first meeting of the BJP and its allies was held on Friday during which it was decided that contentious issues like Article 370, Ayodhya and uniform civil code would be kept aside for the time being and instead emphasis be given on priority areas and good governance.

Meanwhile, the national executive of the party will meet in New Delhi on March 21 and 22 to review the post-poll political situation in the country.

This was decided at a meeting of the central office-bearers of the BJP held in the capital today, which was presided over by party president L K Advani.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS:
BJP uneasy about coordination committee
BJP goes soft, drops key issues

Elections '98

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