BJP meet not to discuss PM candidate: Venkaiah Naidu

The national executive of the BJP will not discuss its prime ministerial candidate at its three-day meeting beginning in Goa Friday, BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said Wednesday.

He said the executive was not the forum to discuss and decide on the prime ministerial candidate.

Denying that there was a 'civil war' in the Bharatiya Janata Party over the issue, he said the parliamentary board would meet at an appropriate time to take a decision.

Addressing a press conference, he said the issue was never discussed at any level in the party and hence there was no difference of opinion.

"Narendra Modi is the most popular leader in the country. There is no doubt about it. Naturally there is some discussion outside. People are giving various suggestions," he said.

"Media is also talking about it but it is unfortunate that a section of the media is creating an impression that all is not well in the BJP and that there are serious differences," he said.

"Some people are unable to digest the growing popularity of the BJP and some people who are rattled by Narendra Modi's popularity are behind this campaign.

"We are a democratic party. People are entitled to have their views. The leadership will sit and discuss the issue and then take a decision unanimously without any problem whatsoever.

"Even if there is such a thing people should be happy. It is a healthy trend. We are not a family and we are not dynasty," he added.

Naidu said some people were reading too much in senior leader L.K. Advani's statement made at Gwalior, comparing Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan with the iconic Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"Since Advaniji was visiting Madhya Pradesh and Chauhan has done an excellent job in developing the backward state, he complimented him," said Naidu. "He also complimented Narendra Modi.

"There is universal acclamation about Gujarat because developing a developed state and maintaining the tempo of development with 9-10 percent growth is not easy," remarked Naidu.

The national executive will discuss preparations and the strategy for coming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Delhi.

It will also discuss the current political and security situation and the recent killing of political leaders by Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

The meet will also deliberate on the need to have a uniform policy to counter Maoists across the country.