Shiv Sena evasive over backing Modi for PM
20 July 2013 11:24 PM GMT
Though Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has virtually declared Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate, the party is finding difficult to gather support from its allies for Modi’s candidature. Shiv Sena, the oldest ally of BJP, on Friday expressed its reservations, over Gujarat chief minister being projected as the prime ministerial candidate of National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
‘The country needs a reliable face. Can you find one face who fits? Can you see one? Since we cannot see a clear face, let us elect a strong government,’ said Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. In what is seen as a rebuff to Modi, the Shiv Sena chief said that there are many faces in NDA who could be projected as the prime ministerial candidate. ‘We have a lot of credible people, have some patience, we will definitely show you the face,’ said Thackeray.
This however, is not the first instance where Shiv Sena has expressed its apprehensions on Modi, in the event of Uttrakhand floods, Thackeray had criticised Modi for being parochial and had said that a national leaders should not concentrate on his state only. Shiv Sena had in the past expressed its support for BJP leader Sushma Swaraj as the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance. Shiv Sena has been having reservations to projection of Modi, apparently because of his proximity to Uddhav’s estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. The Sena chief also held an hour-long meeting with senior BJP leader L K Advani in Delhi.
Thackeray, who had come to the capital for his address at Assocham criticised the government and said said it is difficult to make out who is running the country - the government or the media or NGOs or some other entity.He said he does not want to single out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the sorry state of affairs in the government which he described as corrupt.
‘The country needs a reliable face. Can you find one face who fits? Can you see one? Since we cannot see a clear face, let us elect a strong government,’ said Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. In what is seen as a rebuff to Modi, the Shiv Sena chief said that there are many faces in NDA who could be projected as the prime ministerial candidate. ‘We have a lot of credible people, have some patience, we will definitely show you the face,’ said Thackeray.
This however, is not the first instance where Shiv Sena has expressed its apprehensions on Modi, in the event of Uttrakhand floods, Thackeray had criticised Modi for being parochial and had said that a national leaders should not concentrate on his state only. Shiv Sena had in the past expressed its support for BJP leader Sushma Swaraj as the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance. Shiv Sena has been having reservations to projection of Modi, apparently because of his proximity to Uddhav’s estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. The Sena chief also held an hour-long meeting with senior BJP leader L K Advani in Delhi.
Thackeray, who had come to the capital for his address at Assocham criticised the government and said said it is difficult to make out who is running the country - the government or the media or NGOs or some other entity.He said he does not want to single out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the sorry state of affairs in the government which he described as corrupt.
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