Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is likely to begin his election tour from Punjab on February 6, instead of Uttar Pradesh, BJP sources said on Friday. As per the programme finalised by the party, Vajpayee will go to Punjab and Uttaranchal for one day each and up for four days on electioneering. Earlier the Prime Minister was scheduled to go to Uttar Pradesh for six days. According to the new itinerary, Vajpayee will go to Punjab on February 6, Uttranchal on February 7 and Uttar Pradesh on February 9,11,15, and 16. There could be slight change in Vajpayee's programme, the sources clarified. The sources said that the detailed programme of the Prime Minister was yet to be chalked out, he would certainly be going to Lucknow, Varanasi and Agra. The party wanted the Prime Minister to address atleast one election meeting each in eastern and central Uttar Pradesh.
Efforts were also on to ensure that the first election rally to be organised in Lucknow should also be addressed by the NDA leaders like Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (U), Ram Vilas Paswan of Lok Janshakti and George Fernandes or Nitish Kumar of Samata Party.

Bureau Report