NEW JERSEY: BJP President Rajnath Singh said here he would discuss with all other allies within the National Democratic Alliance before making any formal announcement of their Prime Ministerial candidate.
Talking exclusively to this correspondent during a phone interview, Singh said “hum sab ko saath le key chalange. (We will take everyone into confidence). There will be consensus within the NDA before we make any such announcement”, Singh claimed.
Singh was in New York before his trip to Washington. Asked to comment on the recent statement of the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress, who are against supporting Modi as the prime ministerial candidate of the NDA, he said “I will talk to the allies once I reach India”.
In reply to another question whether the NDA had any backup plan in case it could not reach the magical figure of 272 Lok Sabha seats to form government, Singh said “let us not take up this issue as only time will tell whether we could get to the winning post. No stone would be left unturned to defeat the UPA government led by the Congress”, he asserted.
In reply to a question about the alleged divisive policies of Modi, the BJP president said “pinpoint one incident to show that Modi was pursuing divisive policies. It is all about how you look at it and what you think of it”, he said adding, “BJP has never followed and will not follow in future the policy of divide and rule.”
On the issue whether BJP will once again rake up the Ram Mandir issue or will it leave it the cold storage as it has been doing for the past several years, Rajnath Singh said, “once we come to power we will give preference to balanced development and if the Ram Mandir falls under our developmental agenda will be definitely give it a shot but it (Ram Mandir issue) will not be a political plank”.
Later talking to reporters here, Singh virtually ruled himself out of the prime ministerial race. “It’s not necessary that party president should also be a crowd puller and a prime ministerial candidate. I have an assignment to do for my party. I have a job to deliver – that is victory of the party in the 2014 elections.”
“Seven months before the elections, I have nominated Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as chairman of the party’s election campaign committee. What is unusual in that? We have nominated Modi like other parties do and why read between lines. I have named him as campaign head in view of his image, popularity and commitment to the party,” he told a press conference at the start of his five-day trip to New York and Washington.
‘He is a crowd puller not only in Gujarat but also in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar – from North to South, East to West. He is one single leader with a national appeal. His popularity will help the party in the elections,’ he said.
‘I am more interested in getting the BJP back to power at Centre and packing off the corruption-ridden bad governance of the Congress, in my tenure as president of the party,’ he said. On the question of poll promises, he said BJP would rather go in for developmental debate than Ram Janma Bhoomi issue. ‘Ram temple was not a major poll issue anytime. It was at best a national issue but not an election issue,’ he added.
MODI VISA
Addressing a community reception hosted by Overseas Friends of BJP (OF-BJP) in New Jersey, Rajnath Singh gave a high mark of leadership to Modi describing him as leader with national appeal and observed that the US will have to give him a visa sooner than later.
Singh, who is here on a five-day US visit, added, “I do not need to praise the Gujarat Chief Minister…the whole world has praised Modi’s performance. Look at the paradox. The research paper of an agency of America admired Modi’s governance and achievements, but the government has been closing its eyes on the question of issuing visa to the same man.” The reception held at the TV Asia auditorium was telecast live by the channel.
Singh said the BJP motto for 2014 elections is to make India a global leader and global player not just economically and in strategic matters but also spiritually and culturally.
BJP General Secretary Ananth Kumar, MP, Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi, advisor to the BJP President and Vijay Jolly, BJP Convener for Overseas Affairs also spoke on the occasion.
Sudhir Vyas
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