NDA meet cancelled

New Delhi, May 18: An NDA meeting, called by senior BJP leader L K Advani today to discuss the poll debacle, was cancelled amid indications that the coalition could fall apart with some members leaving it.
The meeting of leaders of the NDA constituents was to be held at Advani's residence this evening.

Representatives of Shiv Sena, INLD, RLD, AGP and TRS were expected to be present for the meeting called to deliberate upon the poll reverses for the alliance and the future course of action.

Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states -- Parkash Singh Badal of Punjab and Nitish Kumar of Bihar -- were also expected to attend.

The cancellation comes in the midst of indications that the coalition may see some constituents parting ways. The suspect parties include RLD which is said to be in touch with Congress for a possible tie-up.

BJP and JD(U) leaders insisted that the meeting had to be "put off" as leaders of some constituent parties were unable to come to Delhi because of some pre-occupation.

"Some leaders were not available... Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal also requested for postponing the meeting because of his pre-occupation," NDA convenor and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said.

On the poll debacle, he said it was the responsibility of the entire coalition. PTI