Uddhav wants PM candidate declared before polls

"There should be no confusion at the last moment. The election for the PM's post is due in April-May next. If at that time we are required to have a PM candidate, what is the harm in starting the discussion now ? All should come together and decide the candidate. What is the problem ?" Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said.

Thackeray referred to differences that cropped up during the presidential election to underscore the need for consultations to start well ahead of Lok Sabha polls to arrive at a unanimous decision.

"During the last Presidential elections, the NDA couldn't decide on a candidate till the last moment. There was no unanimity within NDA on the issue. At that time, when Sangma's name cropped up, Balasaheb said we won't support him but Pranab Mukherjee as he was the better candidate," he said in the concluding part of an interview to the party mouthpiece, "Saamana" published today.

Bal Thackeray had suggested Sushma Swaraj as the suitable PM candidate for NDA, Uddhav said. "If you have another name, please bring it forward, we will talk. But do that soon. Don't behave as you did during the Presidential poll," he added.

Thackeray had last year said he would back Swaraj as she was the only "deserving and brilliant" person who fitted the bill. "She's a savvy woman and will perform her job as Prime Minister in a forceful and decisive manner," the late Sena chief had said. MORE