New Delhi, April 23 (NNN): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the centre seemed to be losing its ground for the first time since the NDTV-Indian Express pre-poll survey.

Latest projections from the exit poll for the first phase, and opinion poll for the second and third phase of Lok Sabha elections showed a sudden drop in numbers for the BJP and its allies. 

While the NDA seemed headed for a tough challenge even in hitting the half-way mark, Congress is now within striking distance of getting 200 seats.

The NDA is now expected to get between 255 to 275 seats, down from the earlier projection of 260 to 280. The pre-poll survey in March had projected close to 300 seats for the coalition.

On the other hand, the Congress and its allies have made steady gains with a current projection of 175 to 195 seats.

The other parties are predicted to get between 90 to 105 seats.

The BJP seemed to be faring badly in Bihar, where the Congress is leading on back of its tie-up with Laloo Yadav's ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Of the 40 seats in the state, the RJD and its allies are projected to get 23 seats, a gain of 14 seats from earlier projections.

The BJP group is all set to lose 14 seats from previous predictions, with a current projection of 16 seats.

Other parties are currently holding on to just one seat.

In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu appeared to be NDA's Achilles' heel, a state where the Congress is benefiting from its alliances created before the elections process kicked off. 

Of the 42 seats in Andhra Pradesh, the Congress is expected to get 24, a substantial rise of 19 seats from previous projections.

The TDP is projected to win on 17 seats, 19 less than earlier predictions.

Other parties are predicted to win one seat.

In states like Maharastra, Utter Pradesh, the two other crucial bastions that may or break the NDA’s boat seemed uncertain for the central alliance. In both the states the Congress is likely to do much better than expected, according to various projections.

Keeping these permutations and combinations in mind, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, making his bid for a fourth term in office, declared on Thursday that a new alignment of political forces was possible after the current general elections.

Vajpayee's comments in an interview to state-run All India Radio (AIR) have set the cat among the pigeons as they will be quite worrying for the Congress -led opposition. There is fear the remarks are aimed at poaching from the rival ranks should the prime minister not get a clear majority.

It was for the first time in this election campaign that Vajpayee has said that his ruling National Democratic Alliance is open to the idea of a political realignment after the election results are out.

"The post election scenario is full of possibilities, including the possibility of a realignment of political forces. We are again moving towards a coalition government, and the issue of political realignments may come up after the election results are declared," said Vajpayee.

Analysts noted that Vajpayee's comments have come at a time when the NDA has been projected by various polls as hovering around the half way mark. And it is believed to be aimed not just at former NDA allies, but also other parties.

These include Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, which has been making sympathetic statements about Vajpayee's Baharatiya Janata Party. 

Mayawati of the Dalit Bahujan Samaj Party, another key player in Uttar Pradesh had refused an alliance with the Congress for the polls. But the BJP refused to elaborate on any plans of alliances. "Let us wait and watch what happens in the future," said party spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

The Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, has been critical of Mulayam Singh in recent days for being soft on the BJP. The threat of a post poll pact between the NDA and Samajwadi Party is getting the Congress worried.

For the record, the Samajwadi Party has been forthright in denying any plans to support the NDA. But before a big election, Vajpayee's comments have triggered a buzz among the smaller parties seeking some stake in government.

This could also indicate that the race to woo crucial Muslim votes in Uttar Pradesh will intensify. Vajpayee has already embarked on that journey. Trying to reach out to the Muslim community, he expressed regret in a public meeting on Thursday that the communal riots in Gujarat left hundreds of people dead and many more affected.

"What happened in Gujarat should not have happened. Let us resolve not to allow another Gujarat to happen anywhere else. Hindus and Muslims should not view each other with mistrust," Mr Vajpayee said in Kishanganj, Bihar, to canvass for the lone Muslim member of his cabinet Syed Shahnawaz Hussain. 

Source: Indo Link.com