Dholpur, Mar 23: Describing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as "consensus-builder" and a "credible leader", Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said "he is regarded as a natural prime minister by the people in the same way as Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was".
People of India trust Vajpayee, under whose leadership BJP is seeking a decisive mandate for NDA in the coming Lok Sabha polls, and his judgement, Advani told reporters before moving on his `Bharat Uday Yatra` after an overnight stay here.

One of the main reasons why our election promises struck a chord in the hearts and minds of the people was the credibility of NDA government led by Vajpayee, he said.
There will be only three issues before the electorate this time -- good governance, development and leadership, he added.

Focusing entirely on Vajpayee`s leadership during his interection with media persons, Advani said his role in lifting India from the depths of despondency to a point where the world is sitting up to take notice, stems from his abiding nationalism and his deep understanding of the vast country.

Taking a snide at Congress, he said Indian National Congress had lost its "Indian and national" suffixes and reduced to mere Congress.

Bureau Report