Absence of Vajpayee affecting BJP

PALAMPUR: Absence of veteran BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee from the active politics was one of the reasons for unfavourable results for the party in the assembly elections held in five states, BJP Vice President Shanta Kumar said on Sunday.

"Yes, his (Vajpayeejee) absence from the political scene indeed was a reason the results in assembly elections not going in favour of BJP," Kumar told journalists who visited him at his home here.

"Vajpayeejee has a unique position in Indian politics... though he is consulted by party leadership on every important matters his absence from the scene had impact on the party's fortune in the polls considered an important indicator of public mood before the general elections likely in April-May next year," Kumar, who was member of Vajpayee cabinet, added.

However, the BJP leader, who twice served as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, said not much should be read in Congress winning in Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram.

"The UPA government has lost people's support for not effectively checking rise in prices of essential commodities and terror attacks in different parts of the country," he said.

Kumar, who is BJP in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, favoured demolition of "terror factories" in Pak-occupied Kashmir.

Asked if he is interested in contesting coming Lok Sabha election from his traditional Kangra seat, Kumar, a Rajya Sabha member, emphatically said he would not enter into field from the seat and instead support a new face from the party.