BJP president Rajnath Singh speaks: Hamara choice (for PM) clear hai

Singh however,sidestepped all questions on whether he will also be BJP's candidate for PM.

The BJPs candidate for prime minister is clear,party president Rajnath Singh said on Friday. It is the Congress that must now show its hand,he said.

Asked by reporters in Palampur whether the BJP would declare its prime ministerial candidate before the polls,Rajnath said,Yeh sawaal aap Congress se poochhiye. Hamara to clear hai (You ask this question to the Congress. Our choice is clear).

At its national executive meeting in Goa in June,the BJP named Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi the chief of its election campaign committee. Rajnath and other BJP leaders have,however,sidestepped all specific questions on whether he will also be their candidate for PM.

Rajnath was in Palampur to address a training programme of BJP workers. He advised them to be united,focused on a high level of credibility,and poll-ready.

On Thursday,even as Modi and Rajnath met with RSS leaders in New Delhi to take stock of election preparations,Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said in an interview to The Indian Express that there was no need to rush the BJP decision on the PM candidate.

The Congress has not announced a candidate. Other parties arent doing it. What is the tearing hurry for the BJP to emerge first on this count? Raman Singh said. PM candidate can also be discussed after the elections are over and the numbers are clear.