Sunday, December 22, 2024
Advertisement
  1. You Are At:
  2. News
  3. Politics
  4. National
  5. No pressure from allies to declare PM candidate: BJP

No pressure from allies to declare PM candidate: BJP

Patna, Apr 8: Amidst growing demand to project Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, the main opposition party on Sunday  ruled out any pressure from its allies on the issue

PTI Published : Apr 08, 2013 9:26 IST, Updated : Apr 08, 2013 9:29 IST
no pressure from allies to declare pm candidate bjp
no pressure from allies to declare pm candidate bjp

Patna, Apr 8: Amidst growing demand to project Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, the main opposition party on Sunday  ruled out any pressure from its allies on the issue and said the decision would be taken at an appropriate time.




"The BJP is under no pressure from the allies, including the JD(U), to declare its prime ministerial candidate," national spokesperson Syed Shahanwaz Hussain said.

It was for the party's 12-member parliamentary board to take a final decision on the matter at an appropriate time, he said.

The party was aware of the popular demand, he said without taking Modi's name.

"We value our association with the JD(U) and respect its views as it has been our oldest ally, besides the Shiv Sena, and we cannot forget the fact that these two parties forged alliance with us when the others considered us untouchables," Hussain said.

Ruling out any ill will between the two allies over the difference between some leaders of either side ever since JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar made his reservation about Modi known, he said, "The relation between the BJP and JD(U) are as sweet today as it has ever been and there should be no doubt about it."

Hussain, at the same time, categorically rejected the accusation by a section of JD(U) leaders about Modi being a 'communal' leader, saying it "was grossly unfair for anybody to dub an individual leader of our party as communal."

"We are collectively secular or communal. As being charged by some of our detractors...It cannot be fair to brand a particular leader as communal and certify the party as secular," he said.

Asked about claims that the next general election will be fought between Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Hussain said polls were not like a cricket match. They would be contested between the BJP and the Congress-led alliance.

Hussain described the Congress-led UPA government as a "sinking ship," saying it had not only lost the trust of the people, but of some allies too.

"If the unpopularity of the UPA government at present was any indication, the sun would definitely set on it in the next general election," he said.

The Congress leadership had broken all norms of public decency by making abusive attacks on the opposition party's leaders he said while citing the example of Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi equating Modi with 'Yamraj'.

He claimed the Congress-led UPA government would go for mid-term elections along with Assembly poll in five states later this year, since the government could not afford to complete its remaining term with a sagging morale.

"We are preparing for the general election," Hussain said.

He also rubbished the idea of a third front taking shape before the next general polls terming it as a "dream."

On Delhi BJP leader Vijay Goel's statement that L K Advani will lead the NDA in the next general elections, he said Goel had clarified his comment, but Advani remained the tallest party leader besides former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Whatever strength the BJP find(s in) itself today, has been due to (the) sheer hardwork of Advaniji...He remains an iconic leader in the party and rightly finds a place in the party's official hoarding," he said.

BJP also cautioned partymen against speaking out of turn on its prime ministerial nominee with its President Rajnath Singh saying some leaders have been "announcing" names virtually on a "daily basis" creating unnecessary controversy.

The party emphasised on the need for discipline and improving its image at a meeting of its office-bearers here to discuss the strategy and issues ahead of polls in six states and the Lok Sabha elections.
Advertisement

Read all the Breaking News Live on indiatvnews.com and Get Latest English News & Updates from Politics and National Section

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement