BJP should decide their PM candidate, not sadhus: JD(U)

As the clamour for projecting Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gets louder, its ally the Janata Dal United (JD-U) has raised serious objections once again. The Gujarat chief minister’s name came up after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal openly backed Modi’s candidature at a congregation in Allahabad on Sunday.

‘If people are themselves demanding that Modi should be made the PM candidate, the BJP would have to think about it. Such a thing is happening for the first time. After all, the BJP president himself has said that Modi is their most popular leader at present,’ said VHP leader Ashok Singhal.

The comment comes a few days after top Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), VHP and BJP leaders met in Delhi to discuss the matter. There are also indications that VHP and some Hindu religious groups close to the RSS may discuss Modi’s candidature at a conclave at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad on 5-6 February. The JD-U, however, is not too amused with religious groups being vocal about Modi getting projected as the prime ministerial candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Even Bihar CM Nitish Kumar was quoted as having said that BJP should declare its candidate in advance.