New Delhi: The BJP appeared to be inching closer towards announcing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate, possibly today, even as party chief Rajnath Singh continued efforts to bring on board leaders who want the decision to be deferred till the assembly polls.
Bharatiya Janata Party sources said that the decision on Modi’s elevation would be announced “soon” and could happen today.
Rajnath Singh said that all senior leaders were being consulted on the issue and sought to downplay reservations of senior party leader L K Advani on declaring Modi as prime ministerial candidate.
“No one is miffed with anyone. ..We will decide after talking to everyone and will make the announcement at the appropriate time,” he said.
As part of efforts at building consensus, the BJP chief met Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who, like Advani, is learnt to have reservations on a decision on prime ministerial candidate before the assembly polls to five states.
Rajnath Singh did not speak to the waiting media after the meeting and did not give an indication if he had been successful.
Sources said that Rajnath Singh was keen to avoid a showdown at the parliamentary board meeting and was a trying to build a broad consensus. Party leader Ananth Kumar had also met Sushma Swaraj after calling on Advani and then met the party chief.
The sources said that parliamentary board meeting could be held om Monday if it is not held today. Rajnath Singh had on Wednesday met Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi as part of efforts to build a consensus.
IANS
