Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi on Thursday explained the circumstances in which she described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "sabse mahaan neta" (greatest politician).
At India TV's daylong Maharashtra election conclave Chunav Manch, Priyanka Chaturvedi said: "Has anybody seen that one-hour-long podcast? I don't think anybody saw it. I give an open challenge to those who are forwarding that video clip. I was asked: Who is the greatest politician (in India)? I replied: 'I cannot recollect immediately'. I was then asked, 'At least you are in Parliament, some politician whom you like best?' So I replied, 'Since I have to search among my colleagues in Parliament, why should I look at anybody below the rank of Prime Minister'. My open challenge stands. Nobody has seen that one-hour-long interview, but they made that clip viral. I do not want to give any further explanation. Let them watch that one-hour podcast, they will get their answers."
Priyanka Chaturvedi was hopeful that the seat-sharing tussle between Maha Vikas Aghadi allies would be solved "by this evening".
Asked why MVA was not declaring Uddhav Thackeray as its chief ministerial candidate, Chaturvedi replied: "Go through any survey or popularity rankings, it will be clear which leader commands the people's sympathy and trust. Not declaring the CM face is part of a strategy, it is not due to any 'kheenchtaan' (tug-of-war) like the one going on in 'Maha Jhoothi Gathbandhan' (Mahayuti). It is our strategy to first jointly fight the elections, and when we will be in a situation to form the government, we will decide who will be the CM. Uddhav Ji may have said that he should be declared the CM face, but he also said that let us first remove the present government from power and then we will decide about the CM. If you see the popularity rankings, you will clearly find where Uddhav Ji stands and where the rest stand. It is known to all."
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, "Three parties in our alliance are fighting the elections collectively. Surveys say that if Uddhav Ji leads, it would be better. But if both our allies think that it would be 'ghaatak' (risky) if the CM face is announced, then we respect their sentiments too."
