BJP holds election post-mortem

Party grandees arrive for the battle plan meeting

Leaders of India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are meeting to chart strategy after a poor showing in state elections earlier this month.

The Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has described his party's election results in five states as a wake up call for his government.

We will discuss how to expand our network and review our preparation for elections

BJP spokesman JP Mathur

The BJP contested the 10 May elections mostly in alliance with other parties, but failed to pull in large numbers of voters.

The main opposition Congress Party, however, made substantial gains and described the results as an overwhelming victory.

Congress and its allies won in four states, while the communists easily held eastern West Bengal.

"We will discuss how to expand our network and review our preparation for elections in Uttar Pradesh and local bodies in Delhi and Bombay," BJP spokesman JP Mathur told Reuters.

The northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous, is likely to hold elections later this year.

The outcome of the vote is being seen as crucial to the BJP because it is a party stronghold.

Creaky alliance

Mr Vajpayee will not take part in Sunday's meeting, at the hill resort of Mussoorie, Mr Mathur said.

Home Minister LK Advani, the government's number two, will be in charge.

Mr Vajpayee's government is 18 months into a five-year term, but a recent arms scandal, embarassment in state polls and controversial economic reforms have led to speculation about the future of the ruling, multi-party alliance.

The ruling coalition suffered its first blow in March when the Trinamool Congress pulled out over the corruption scandal, leaving the federal government with a majority of just 19 in parliament.