VETERANS ADVANI, JOSHI REFUSE TO SUGGEST NAMES FOR RAISINA JOB

BJP veterans LK Advani and MM Joshi refused to suggest any names for the NDA presidential candidate when senior ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Rajnath Singh approached them for advice on Thursday.

Sources close to the veterans told HT they did not propose any name to the ministers and left it to the BJP leadership to take the call. Singh and Naidu had a closed door meeting, separately, with the two seniors on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keeping BJP leaders and others guessing about his choice for the top post and he is likely to reveal it to key party leaders over the next couple of days. A meeting of the BJP parliamentary board is expected on June 22 to finalise the name.

Advani (89) and Joshi (83) missed ministerial berths in 2014 when Narendra Modi decided not to induct any 75-plus leader in the Union council of ministers.

The two are seen as contenders for the post of the President and the Vice-President, but are not favourite of the current BJP leadership. The post of V-P falls vacant in August.

The clamour from within the party, too, in favour of Advani as next President has gone unnoticed. “My sense is that public at large is also getting annoyed, rather angry. Wants to know why the delay and why not the most deserving Advani ji?” Patna Saheb MP Sahtrughan Sinha wrote on Twitter. “Hope you are listening - because we may not get this opportunity again. Please vote & support Mr. Advani ! Jai Hind.”