BJp must avoid any controversy over PM candidate: Jaitley

BJP leader Arun Jaitley Saturday cautioned party leaders that any discordant notes over its prime ministerial candidate could result in the party slipping on its electoral advantage over the UPA in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

He said that such a scenario would be akin to committing a hit wicket.

Indicating support for declaration of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign committee head Narendra Modi as party's prime ministerial candidate, Jaitley said that there are times when when parliamentary elections assumes the dimension of presidential elections especially when leaders enjoy overwhelming popular support as had happened in the case of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indira Gandhi asnd Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Addressing the conclave of the BJP's national cell, he claimed that the UPA was plunged with leadership crisis as it lacked an effective leader and people were looking at the BJP.

Sooner the BJP announced its prime ministerial candidate, the better it would be for its electoral prospects, he added.

Urging the party to refrain from courting any controversy over the issue, Jaitley said" ""We should not get a hit-wicket. That is a scenario where nobody bowls you out, but you give your own wicket. That is the only way we are going to lose this election."