29.1.13

Yashwant pitches for Modi as PM


A day after Narendra Modi expressed a larger role for himself in the BJP in the run-up to next year’s parliamentary polls, senior party leader Yashwant Sinha fired the first salvo, openly pitching for declaring the Gujarat chief minister as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, saying it would hugely benefit the party.
Contending that he was reflecting the mood of the country and BJP workers, he advised ally Janata Dal (United), which has reservations on Modi because of the 2002 riots, not to target the CM but take a decision after careful consideration.
The former external affairs minister, who had once claimed to be qualified for the top job, said the decision on the prime ministerial candidate was the party’s to take but that he was reflecting the sentiment of workers and the people.
Sinha became the first senior BJP leader to openly pitch for declaring Modi as the prime ministerial candidate; although the party and its leaders have been evasive on the issue.
Reacting to Sinha’s statement, the JD(U) on Monday bluntly told the opposition party to realize that alliances are formed with “great difficulty”.

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