Will decide PM candidate after talks: Rajnath Singh

The BJP's prime ministerial nominee for the 2014 general elections would be announced after "talking to everyone", party president Rajnath Singh said Thursday.

"We will decide after talking to everyone and will make the announcement at the appropriate time," Rajnath Singh said here.

According to party sources, there is a broad agreement on the name of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate.

A formal announcement may be made Friday when the BJP parliamentary board meets to approve Modi's candidature.

But a major concern for Rajnath Singh is to convince senior leaders L.K. Advani and Sushma Swaraj, who are of the opinion that a decision on Modi's projection as prime ministerial candidate should be taken after the assembly polls in five states, said sources.

Rajnath Singh: "No one is miffed with anyone."

Agreed party spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: "Discussions are going on and we will announce the nominee soon. There is no contradiction in the party on who will be the prime ministerial candidate. All is well."

In case a general consensus among the parliamentary board does not emerge, Rajnath Singh can also make an announcement even without a parliamentary board meeting as he has the power to do so, according to the party constitution.