ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE AND OTHERS WAVE AT THE CROWD DURING AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN RALLY IN...

Atal Behari Vajpayee (L), Lal Krishan Advani (C), leaders of the right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Bansi Lal (R), chief Minister of the northern state of Haryana and leader of the Haryana Vikas Party, an ally of BJP, wave during an election rally in New Delhi February 2. Vajpayee is the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for general elections starting February 16-March 7. The BJP, which was the single largest party in the dissolved parliament, along with its allies held its first campaign rally in the Indian capital. Opinion polls predict that the BJP is likely to emerge as the single largest party but may just fall short of the required number to form a government. INDIA HINDU