BJP today said no assurance has been given to ally JD(U), which is opposed to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's elevation as Election Campaign Committee head of the right-wing party, on who will be the party's Prime Ministerial candidate.
In reply to a question on the issue, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said "I don't think there is an assurance to JD(U) on who will or who will not be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party."
It is widely believed in BJP and NDA that it is a near certainty that Modi will be the PM candidate of the party after his elevation at the Goa conclave as campaign committee head.
Sitharaman also insisted JD(U) cannot decide on who should be the PM candidate of BJP.
"The decision to choose A or B or C is entirely the business of BJP," she added.
However, she maintained that BJP does not want to snap ties with JD(U) which is an old ally. She further said the government in Bihar has been formed after the people of the state gave a mandate to JD(U)-BJP alliance. It was not a vote for a particular party or an individual.
In reply to another question, the BJP leader said there is no decision on either making Modi a "de facto or a de jure" PM candidate at present.
