New Delhi, Apr 01: BJP legislators from Uttar Pradesh today met top party leaders and discussed ways of strengthening party's base in the context of its coalition arrangement with BSP even as deputy prime minister L K Advani said that it was necessary if the BJP-led coalition at the Centre were to retain power after next Lok Sabha elections. They said that chief minister Mayawati's dalit base was increasing in the state and there was need for BJP to consolidate its strength and also to ensure smooth functioning of the coalition, party spokesman Pramod Mahajan told reporters here.
During the four-hour meeting at the residence of party president M Venkaiah Naidu, some of the legislators felt that the party should take up the case of Raja Bhaiyya who has been detained under Pota and that vat should not be implemented as it was eroding the party standing among the trading community who were a major support base for the party.
Addressing the meeting, Advani emphasised the importance of expanding BJP's political base in Uttar Pradesh if the party were to retain power in the Centre in Lok Sabha elections next year.
He said that the state was important politically for it sends 85 MPs to Lok Sabha and therefore it must maintain control over the state.
Advani said that the party was placed third in the last assembly elections and therefore it was imperative that its cadres and elected representatives worked towards improving its position in the state as it was "very important to be strong politically in Uttar Pradesh."

Bureau Report