Udaipur, Sept 07: A day after VHP said it disfavoured another prime ministerial term for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the BJP today asserted the next general elections will be contested under his leadership. "The next general elections will be contested by BJP along with the NDA under Vajpayee`s leadership. It is our hope that Vajpayee will continue to be our Prime Minister after the elections," BJP president Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.

Naidu said Vajpayee has given an efficient government to the nation and is leading the country on the path of development. "We do not want to get into an argument with VHP, but just want to put a point across," he said adding, "No one in the party or in the NDA has ever raised any doubt on the leadership of Vajpayee."

"Our poll plank for the next elections will be the ability and stability of the Vajpayee government," he said. Asked about Hindutva being an issue in the 2004 elections, Naidu said, "We have made it clear that the elections will be contested on a developmental agenda with security and unity being major issues."

The BJP chief said the target for 2004 polls will be a majority for BJP and a two-thirds majority for the NDA.

"It is difficult but not impossible," he said. Bureau Report