J.S.- Akali Alliance To Keep Congress Out of Power: Vajpayee

From Our Correspondent

New Delhi, January 22

Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, President of the Jan Sangh, today expressed confidence that the Akali-Jan Sangh alliance would keep the Congress out of power in Punjab.

Mr. Vajpayee was addressing a Press conference on Poll prospects in Punjab, U.P., West Bengal and Bihar.

He said in Punjab the Jan Sangh had secured nine seats in the last General Election but this time the party hoped to capture 20 seats.

Mr Vajpayee said that the Jan Sangh was trying to get an absolute majority in Bihar and U.P.

In Bihar the Jan Sangh hoped to multiply its strength many times. It appeared that in Bihar it would be impossible for the Congress to get more than 100 seats. The Jan Sangh, if properly organised might emerge as the largest single party in the State.

Mr. Vajpayee said that the speeches of the Prime Minister provided a glimpse of her mind as to the nature of alignment she would prefer after the elections.

In Punjab, he said, she almost refrained from criticising the Akali Dal and made the Jan Sangh the focal point of her attacks. In West Bengal her grouse against the Communists was not that they were anti-national or that they encouraged lawlessness, but that they had agreed to join coalition Government in Bihar and U.P., alongwith the Jan Sangh.

He regretted that All India Radio was broadcasting Mrs. Gandhi election speeches but not of leaders of other parties. He would take up this matter with the Minister for Information and Broadcasting also.

Answering questions Mr. Vajpayee said that the Jan Sangh had an open mind on coalition Governments. But the final picture would emerge after election.