New Delhi, Sep 29: Senior BJP leader L K Advani was not eyeing the Prime Ministerial post, party President Nitin Gadkari said today indicating that the former Deputy Prime Minister has already made it clear that he is not in the race. Gadkari held a press conference to share details of Advani's ‘yatra' which will be flagged-off by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at Sitabdiara, Bihar, on October 11.
In reply to a question, Gadkari said “this yatra isnot for the Prime Minister's post. This yatra is aimed at clean politics and good governance. The party will support this yatra fully and contribute to making it a success.” He insisted Advani had already made his stand clear on the Prime Ministership issue soon after meeting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during his recent visit to Nagpur.
“What more can I say? Advani has already said what you want to know.... During his visit to Nagpur, he had informed the press that he came to India from Karachi, joined the Jan Sangh... He has said what the party has given him is more than the Prime Minister's post.”
Advani was not present at the press meet. While Advani's announcement on September 8 that he will take out a yatra had come as a surprise to BJP top brass, his meeting with Bhagwat seems to have allayed apprehensions-albeit temporarily- that he is not aiming for the top post. After a meeting with the party's national office bearers and state organisation general secretaries, Gadkari said the party has decided to make the yatra a big success and will rally all its strength behind it.
Gadkari said Advani will also visit Gujarat during his yatra, scotching reports that Chief Minister Narendra Modi is opposed to his yatra and so he may skip the state. PTI
