Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=05/13/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=INDIA ELECTION (S)

NUMBER=2-315871

BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN

DATELINE= NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: Leaders of India's Bharatiya Janata Party have conceded defeat in national elections after early results indicated a surprise win by the opposition Congress Party. Prime Minister Atal Bihari

Vajpayee is expected to resign later Thursday. V-O-A's Patricia Nunan reports from New Delhi.

TEXT: Senior members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, or B-J-P, say they accept their defeat. But for some, it has not changed their views about what is best for India.

Defense Minister George Fernandes is among them.

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We had an agenda that we had presented to the people, which the people have obviously not been perhaps happy with. And that agenda will remain our agenda.

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Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called the election six months early on the strength of the B-J-P's economic track record, which has made India one of the world's fastest growing economies. But analysts say the B-J-P campaign failed to impress the rural poor.

A coalition led by the Sonia Gandhi's Congress Party is expected to announce a new prime minister and form a government in the coming days. (Signed)

NEB/HK/PN/KPD