DATE=10/8/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIAN ELECTIONS / FRIDAY (S)
NUMBER=2-754788
BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
began the process of forming his new government
Friday. Mr. Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Party and its
allies won nearly 300 seats in India's 545-seat
parliament -- soundly defeating the once-dominant
Congress Party, which won just over 130 seats. V-O-
A's Jim Teeple reports Mr. Vajpayee and his allies say
they have enough of a majority to serve a full five-
year term in office.
Text: Leaders from the more than 20 parties in Mr.
Vajpayee's coalition -- known as the National
Democratic Alliance -- began meeting in New Delhi
Friday to discuss the formation of a new government.
Mr. Vajpayee's last government collapsed in April,
after just 13 months in power. B-J-P spokesman Venkah
Naidu says that will not happen again. He says the
B-J-P led coalition is solidly behind Mr. Vajpayee and
will serve out a full five-year term.
// NAIDU ACTUALITY //
We have had enough instability in 96, 98 and 99. I
think our people have become wise to this and the N-D-
A will last its full term.
// END ACTUALITY //
B-J-P leaders say their new government will focus
first on domestic issues, such as agriculture, women's
education and the creation of new states.
Meanwhile leaders of the opposition Congress Party,
led by Italian-born Sonia Gandhi, say they will
conduct a thorough review into why their party did so
badly -- losing its third parliament election in a
row. (Signed)
\
neb/jlt / wd
08-Oct-1999 03:12 AM EDT (08-Oct-1999 0712 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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