Vajpayee deputes Mahajan to take stock in UP

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has deputed Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Pramod Mahajan to take stock of the party's poll preparations in Uttar Pradesh.

"Mahajan is going to Lucknow on March 8," party sources said.

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Aiming for 300 seats on its own and a two-thirds majority for the National Democratic Alliance, the BJP attaches much importance to UP in its electoral strategy. With the party going it alone in the 80 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP does not want to leave any stone unturned. Its prospects have been boosted by the return of former chief minister Kalyan Singh after four years.

Among the leaders Mahajan is likely to meet are state unit president Singh, Vinay Katiyar and Kalraj Mishra.