Rajnath, JDU say don't talk about PM post, C P Thakur defies

In Patna, another BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha backed Yashwant Sinha who has openly pitched for declaring Narendra Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.

"Yashwant Sinhaji is a senior and an experienced leader. He never talks light. He speaks only after giving deep thought on an issue, I stand with him on what he has said," Sinha told reporters here.

"There is always truth in what he says I have always been by his side ideologically," Shatrughan said.

Thakur maintained since Congress has taken a decision on who will be their PM candidate, BJP should also declare the name of its candidate.

"There is no harm in declaring the name. Good or bad we must decide and there should not be any confusion in the minds of the public and leaders that he will lead the party," he said.

He claimed making Modi a candidate for PM is important also as there has been a lot of "anti-news" against Modi for long. "This negative publicity will turn into positive (if Modi is declared the candidate)," Thakur said.

He also demanded that BJP call a meeting of its Parliamentary Board to declare the name of its PM candidate as polls may be held just after the Union Budget is presented.

Singh had earlier expressed concern over the clamour among BJP leaders for declaring the PM candidate.

"Whether to speak, who will speak or not speak, what he will say (on such an issue) is all decided by the Central Parliamentary Board. So, if any question is asked by the media, then all leaders should say that a final decision on the issue will be taken by the Central Parliamentary Board," he said.

Singh had issued a similar directive earlier but it seems to have had little impact on the BJP leaders.

"I am making this appeal as our leaders usually behave within the prescribed limits and such comments hurt everybody. I am not going to make this appeal that I am making, again," he said.

... contd.

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