No conflict of interest between Advani and Modi: Naidu

The BJP leader said the PM is accountable to the nation

Denying any conflict of interest between L K Advani and Narendra Modi, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today supported the Gujarat Chief Minister's challenge to the Prime Minister, saying that everybody has the right to question his performance as he was accountable to the nation.

"There is no conflict of interest at all because Advaniji has not taken any name. I have gone through his statement very carefully. It is very clear that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is answerable to the nation. He has failed, therefore we have every right to question him. But no personal criticism should be made," Naidu told reporters here.

"But yes, there can be criticism of his performance. Prime Minister is accountable to the nation," he said.

Naidu's comment came in the backdrop of Narendra Modi's attack on Manmohan Singh on Independence Day yesterday which drew an indirect rebuke from Advani, who also got the backing of key NDA ally Shiv Sena.

Advani, who has voiced reservations about the elevation of the Gujarat Chief Minister as BJP's national election campaign chief, yesterday said that on a day like Independence Day, leaders should not be critical of others.

Asked whether the BJP-led NDA would be able to garner enough allies with Modi as the party's poll campaign committee chief, Naidu said, "Alliances and understandings are not made on the basis of personalities, but are made on the basis of agenda,".