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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Rajnath Singh on Saturday said there was no pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on the announcement of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the party’s prime ministerial candidate. He added veteran party leader L K Advani had never opposed Modi’s nomination and, therefore, the question of whether or not Advani was isolated in the party didn’t arise.
“Advaniji has every right to be disappointed. I will continue to listen to him and, if required, make necessary changes in the party’s functioning,” Singh said. He, however, didn’t divulge the details of his meeting with Advani before the announcement of the party’s prime ministerial candidate on Friday.
“There is no dispute over Modi’s nomination,” he said.
He added the party would have pre- and post-election alliances. On whether he would now take charge of the party’s campaign committee, Singh said a decision on this would be taken at the appropriate time and after a consensus was reached. “I am a party chief; that is enough,” he said.
It was yet to be decided whether Modi would contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, he said, adding Modi wasn’t legally barred from entering into the electoral fray while continuing to hold the post of chief minister.
Singh dared the Congress to announce its prime ministerial nominee, saying the party might not be able to take a decision on this in the run-up to the coming Lok Sabha elections.
“India needs relief from the Congress party,” he said.
