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PM refuses to put Ayodhya off forever

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was non-committal on his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, setting aside contentious issues like Ayodhya permanently, saying he could not predict what would happen five years down the line.

Addressing the press in Hyderabad, Vajpayee promised that issues like Ayodhya, a uniform civil code and Article 370 would not be raised in the next five years even if the BJP wins a majority, as it is committed to a coalition and the National Agenda of Governance.

But he said the manifesto is limited to the next five years and he could not say what would happen thereafter.

Vajpayee said the alliance with the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh would benefit both parties.

He said he would exert "a little pressure" on the TDP to join the next coalition government to be formed by the National Democratic Alliance.

UNI

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