India Shining cost BJP dearly: Advani

Admitting that BJP could not muster the mandate of the people once again, Advani, addressing a press conference, said that anybody observing the elections will accept that "no party, group or definitely not any individual has got the mandate".

Describing the poll results as "fractured and divided", Advani said, "We never expected such a verdict and it won't be wrong to say that nobody else also expected this including our rivals who are in the Government now."

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Asserting that the election result implied that people wanted "broad consensus" to be the basis of policies to be implemented", the senior BJP leader said, "I hope Government understands (meaning of this verdict) and acts accordingly."

Advani admitted that the two catch phrases "feel good" and "India shining" did not benefit the party.

Accepting the verdict of the people, he said BJP would now act as a "constructive Opposition".

"We had admitted the verdict on May 13 itself even when all the results were not out and had decided to act as constructive Opposition," Advani said.

However, he asserted that dialogue and broad consensus should be the basis while deciding policies which will also help in carrying forward the good work done in last six years.

Advani said that the phrases "feel good" and "India shining" cost the BJP-led coalition "dearly" as these failed to get votes for the NDA in the elections.