A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership indicated that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would be given a national role in the Lok Sabha elections, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha demanded Modi be declared the prime ministerial candidate of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Sinha asked senior leaders of Janata Dal (United), an ally of the BJP, not to target Modi and instead take a decision only after careful consideration. Sinha argued that if the Gujarat chief minister was projected as the prime ministerial candidate, it will give a boost to the party.
“A debate has been taking place for many days now. When I travel, there is a strong demand from the common people and workers that Narendra Modi be declared as the PM candidate, as this will benefit the party. After a careful thought, I have concluded that if BJP declares Narendra Modi as its PM candidate, then BJP will benefit hugely in the elections. It will have a big impact on voters. I have no doubt on this,” said Sinha while talking to reporters.
Several BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and former BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu, had said during the Gujarat elections that Modi had the capability to lead the country.
