Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Not in race for the CM’s post: Nadda

- Gaurav Bisht gaurav.bisht@hindustant­imes.com

a favourite of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda’s whose political rise has been meteoric, said he is not in race for the chief minister’s post of the hill state.

Speaking to Hindustan Times on Thursday, Nadda said, “I have never thought about it. Competitio­n and race are alien words for me. My work and organisati­on are above everything.”

While the party is yet make a choice, Nadda continues to campaign for BJP candidates.

The Congress has declared its CM candidate and has been asking the BJP to do the same. Nadda says, “Deciding candidates is a matter of strategy. We had declared the chief ministeria­l candidate ahead of polls in Maharashtr­a, Karnataka and Assam. In Uttarakhan­d, however, we did not declare the candidate and the party also did not declare a face for UP. Party will take a call...”

On the saffron party’s poll plank, Nadda said , “Congress is a party with no roadmap or vision. Time and again this has been proven in Himachal Pradesh and

SHIMLA:Considered

they have not made any contributi­on. While progressiv­e steps were taken during BJP regimes, regressive decisions were taken during Congress,” he says.

“The BJP is fighting against both Congress and corruption. Congress does not have the morality to remove a tainted leader like Singh. Ultimately the fight against Virbhadra Singh, Congress and corruption is one,” he adds.

Speaking about rebels in the party, he said: “The BJP has placated most of the rebels... We have succeeded to quell rebellion on some seats. The BJP is in a very comfortabl­e position so it is natural that ambition and aspiration­s will be high this time.”

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JP Nadda

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