Advani to be PM if NDA regains power: Rajnath

In the midst of former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat raking up the issue of BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, the party said L K Advani would occupy the top post if NDA regains power at the Centre.

In the midst of former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat raking up the issue of BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, the party on Saturday said L K Advani would occupy the top post if NDA regains power at the Centre. "The NDA would win the Lok Sabha polls with a comfortable majority and L K Advani would become the country's next prime minister," BJP President Rajnath Singh told a press conference in Bhopal.

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The BJP president claimed more allies were joining NDA. Singh, however, declined to comment on Shekhawat's move to contest Lok Sabha polls saying "if you respect a person, you do not talk much about him".

Shekhawat had created a flutter when he said he had plans to contest Lok Sabha polls if his health permits amid media speculation that his idea could be a challenge to BJP prime ministerial Advani for the top post. "Those who have taken a dip in the Ganges do not go for a swim in the well," Singh had said, to which Shekhawat had hit back saying "I never demanded a ticket from BJP and if the party does not want to allot ticket, it is the party's sweet will. I have nothing to do with it".

Over Rajnath's statement that someone who had held a key constitutional post should not indulge in electoral politics, Shekhawat had said India's first Governor General C Rajagopalachari had contested elections and had become the Chief Minister of Madrass after leaving the post. The BJP president denied Shekhawat's statements had caused any problem to BJP.