Proposal of Modi as PM candidate is personal view: Shourie

Virtually cornered for his stand that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party in the next general elections, BJP leader Arun Shourie today clarified that these were his personal views.

Virtually cornered for his stand that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party in the next general elections, BJP leader Arun Shourie today clarified that these were his personal views.

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"I was asked in Ahmedabad about the opportunities that Gujarat could have. I told them that the first was they could send L K Advani as Prime Minister. Second, that with the PM and Chief Minister from the same party there would be no discrimination against Gujarat. Third, they could also send my friend Modi as Prime Minister," he told reporters in New Delhi.

Shourie, however, added that the statements made on Friday were only his personal views.

"Naturally, there are other candidates. Other capable people (to be PM candidate)," he said.

Later, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar clarified that the Prime Ministerial candidate is decided by the party.
Party sources said Shourie had created a "needless controversy" by making such remarks.

On Saturday, Shourie said there was no need to stir a controversy on the issue and was dismissive about the whole affair.