Close call

Close call

India's President KR Narayanan took the first step towards appointing a prime minister when he met Atal Behari Vajpayee, leader of the Hindu Nationalist BJP. Recalling Mr Vajpayee's earlier stint in 1996, when he was brought down after 13 days, Mr Narayanan asked him to persuade him he will be able to form a stable government. If the Telugu Desam Party,which won 12 seats, abstains from taking sides in a confidence vote, Mr Vajpayee will survive with a majority of one. - Peter Popham, New Delhi