File photo
Hyderabad:
The BJP today denied that one of its most senior leaders, LK Advani, has openly expressed his opposition to the possible selection of Gujarat Chief Minister Narenda Modi as the party's candidate for prime minister. BJP president Rajnath Singh asserted once again that Mr Modi is the "most popular leader" of the BJP, and said Mr Advani's remarks over the weekend, indicating that Mr Modi's accomplishments are not as impressive as that of his counterpart in Madhya Pradesh, have been misinterpreted.
On Saturday, Mr Advani offered lavish praise for Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who heads the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh. Mr Advani said that though Mr Modi's economic development of Gujarat is impressive, Mr Chouhan managed the more difficult task of turning around a poorer state. He also said that Mr Chouhan's "lack of arrogance" has shades of the party's iconic leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The veteran leader's assessment has strengthened the perception that he is lobbying to prevent Mr Modi from being declared as the BJP's presumptive prime minister.
Mr Chouhan tried to quell the controversy today. "I want to say with all humility that Advani first praised Narendra Modi for his excellent work. He then praised Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh Chief Minister)... So he did not praise any individual," he said.
He also refuted suggestions that Mr Advani appears to be backing him for the country's top job against Mr Modi.
"Narendra Modi is my senior, an elder brother. Raman Singh is also senior to me. Leave alone being number one, or number two, I am not even at number three," Mr Chouhan said.
Despite its demurrals, the strife within the BJP over its choice for prime minister has been scaling up, largely because other senior leaders believe they are more deserving candidates than Mr Modi, whose emphatic third successive re-election in December has strengthened his claim as the party's strongest leader.
On Saturday, Mr Advani offered lavish praise for Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who heads the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh. Mr Advani said that though Mr Modi's economic development of Gujarat is impressive, Mr Chouhan managed the more difficult task of turning around a poorer state. He also said that Mr Chouhan's "lack of arrogance" has shades of the party's iconic leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The veteran leader's assessment has strengthened the perception that he is lobbying to prevent Mr Modi from being declared as the BJP's presumptive prime minister.
Mr Chouhan tried to quell the controversy today. "I want to say with all humility that Advani first praised Narendra Modi for his excellent work. He then praised Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh Chief Minister)... So he did not praise any individual," he said.
He also refuted suggestions that Mr Advani appears to be backing him for the country's top job against Mr Modi.
"Narendra Modi is my senior, an elder brother. Raman Singh is also senior to me. Leave alone being number one, or number two, I am not even at number three," Mr Chouhan said.
Despite its demurrals, the strife within the BJP over its choice for prime minister has been scaling up, largely because other senior leaders believe they are more deserving candidates than Mr Modi, whose emphatic third successive re-election in December has strengthened his claim as the party's strongest leader.
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