NDA ally JD-U not keen on Narendra Modi as PM candidate

In an indication that Narendra Modi would not be acceptable for Prime Ministership to BJP's allies, JD-U on Saturday seemed dismissive about the Gujarat Chief Minister being projected for the top post saying there was "no vacancy".

In an indication that Narendra Modi would not be acceptable for Prime Ministership to BJP's allies, JD-U on Saturday seemed dismissive about the Gujarat Chief Minister being projected for the top post saying there was "no vacancy".

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JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, who is also NDA convenor, said it did not augur well for the BJP to speak like this after projecting L K Advani as BJP's candidate for prime ministership.

"There is no vacancy (in the prime ministerial post). NDA has decided that Advani is its candidate," Yadav said replying to questions at a press conference in New Delhi.

Yadav's remark came when asked to comment on statements by a number of BJP leaders that Modi could be the party's prime ministerial candidate in the next general elections.

"Who knows what will happen after 100 years. It is not necessary to say all these things now," he said. Projection of Modi as the prime ministerial candidate was initiated by BJP leader Arun Shourie and was endorsed by some of his party colleagues Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad.

However, BJP President Rajnath Singh is apparently not favouring it as he has reportedly said that such a talk was "childish".