Bihar BJP chief sidesteps question on Modi as PM candidate

Bihar BJP chief Mangal Pandey today said the decision on the party projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as NDA's prime ministerial candidate will be taken by its central leadership.
Pandey, who returned from Delhi after attending the three-day BJP national council meeting, sidestepped questions by reporters about projection of Modi as prime ministerial candidate by NDA.
Asked about Modi's participation at the 'Hunkar rally' here on April 15, he said details related to it and list of invitees will be discussed during the two-day state executive meeting to be held here on March 16 and 17.
He, however, said senior BJP leader and state unit in-charge Ananth Kumar and Dharmendra Pradhan will attend the state executive meeting.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley may also attend the function, he said.
Appearing to be unfazed by rebellion against him by a section of state leaders, he exhorted party members to prepare for 2014 Lok Sabha polls so that NDA wins all 40 seats from the state and forms the next government at the Centre.

He asked party leaders and workers to mobilise youths and other sections for the next general elections and convince them to vote for NDA.
Flatly refusing to entertain any question on rebellion against him led by a section of state party leaders over constitution of a 174-member working committee, he said it was time to move on and prepare the groundwork for the next general elections.

Describing the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre as a "fused bulb", he said it had presided over corruption, scams and economic and financial mismanagement during its nine-year rule and NDA was the only viable alternative to it.