Raipur, Nov 18: Deputy Prime Mnister L K Advani today ruled out the possibility of the Dilip Singh Judev episode adversely affecting the Bharatiya Janata Party's poll prospects in the December 1 assembly elections in five states including Chhattisgarh. In fact, '' Mr Judev will be our principal campaigner in Chhattisgarh,'' Mr Advani said at a press conference.

''It is not an embarrassment for us. Our responses to the development has, in fact, raised the party in the eyes of the people'', he added.

''The responses of the Congress and the BJP to scandals and scams are a study in contrast'', Mr Advani said. There were dozens of scandals and scams during the long Congress rule since 1952 and everyone knew how that party responded whenever there was an allegation against its leaders, he added. ''We don't want to hide anything. Our response was straightforward whenever there was an allegation,'' he said pointing out that Mr Judev had resigned from his Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest post on his own. The government had also ordered an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the case.

Mr Advani said the CBI would investigate all aspects, including the circumstances under which it took place.

About the BJP leaders' charge that the VCD showing visuals of Mr Judev accepting money was fake and fabricated and it was part of a conspiracy hatched by the Christian Missionaries, the Deputy Prime Minister said, '' the CBI is on the job. Let them investigate and bring out the details''.

''I think the issue of corruption should be viewed in a very sober and sensitive manner and not just as sensationalism'', he added.

Asked whether Mr Judev could be considered for the post of Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh in the event of BJP coming to power in the the state after the December 1 assembly election, Mr Advani said, ''let the CBI complete its investigations.'' Bureau Report