Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Saturday said that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government has 'de-politicised and de-ideologised' Centre-state relations and such a 'conscious' approach had led to 'smoother and harmonious' relations between the two.

Speaking at the India Today Chief Ministers Conclave in New Delhi he castigated parties for adopting an approach of political untouchability at times. "Ideological untouchability should be tabooed when the question of national interest arises," he said.

"A qualitative change has occurred in the Centre where many regional parties, under the banner of the NDA [National Democratic Alliance], have played a major role in national politics... NDA is a political manifestation of the social diversity of India," he said.

This, Advani said, had given an alternative approach to the Indian polity and the rulers of the country as to blend regional aspirations into a national perspective. "We have consciously adopted this approach because it is our conviction that the interests of the nation must always supersede all other considerations," he said, adding that strengthening of states would in turn strengthen federalism.

Due to such an approach, the deputy prime minister said, the impartial assembly elections could be held in Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura and Meghalaya. "Though our principal ally [National Conference] lost in J&K, it was a victory for the Indian democracy. The supporters of militancy were resoundingly rejected. The situation in the state is witnessing a hopeful turnaround," he said.

In Tripura and Meghalaya too, he said the Centre provided all support, including sending of security forces, to tackle law and order during elections.  In this context he said, "I told the West Bengal chief minister why this kind of a problem was being faced in the panchayat polls. He assured me all steps will be taken to ensure free and fair polls."

Referring to 'BIMARU' states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the deputy prime minister said these states, which accounted for 40 per cent of the total populace, have "historically been our 'jujharu' [strong and sound] states. They bore the brunt of foreign invasions for centuries, but also fought valiantly for freedom".

The socio-economic revival of these states was 'one of the strategic components or our strategy to make India a developed nation by 2020', he said.

Advani also referred to the eastern and northeastern regions and said efforts should be made to 'make eastern India the new food basket of our country'.

Opposing the view that states were 'dragging reforms', he said many difficulties faced by various states are 'genuine', but some are created by the competitive politics of parties opposing certain reform measures in states where the NDA are the opposition.

Advani also expressed serious concern over the 'alarming decline' in the male-female ratio in the developed states of Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi "Most of the nearly 1.4 million missing girls were victims of son-preference and the resultant evil practice of female foeticide in these economically advanced states."

Chief Ministers who attended the function included N Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Rabri Devi (Bihar), Narendra Modi (Gujarat) and Manohar Parikar (Goa).