No decision on Modi’s seat due to infighting

Lack of consensus and ego clashes yet again delayed the BJP’s much-awaited list of candidates for Uttar Pradesh. Suspense continued over PM candidate Narendra Modi contesting from Varanasi, as differences over seat allotment intensified at the party’s central election committee meeting here on Thursday. BJP workers are getting restless and annoyed over the delay in announcing the list of candidates for UP, which has emerged as the main battleground for the BJP’s “Mission 272+”. The committee’s Mumbai: Despite the public display of bonhomie, tensions between the Shiv Sena and BJP continues to simmer. The Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Thursday carried an editorial piece taking potshots at the BJP after which the former state BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar reminded the Sena about its alliances with the MNS in local body governments. Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray said that ‘second string’ leaders of the BJP should stay away from making comments. Meanwhile, state BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis instructed all party spokespersons not to make any comment on Saamana’s editorial. next meeting will be held on Saturday.

Amid the UP tussle, the panel releases its third list of 97 candidates in nine states.

On UP, while sitting Varanasi MP Murli Manohar Joshi is reluctant to vacate the seat for Mr Modi, the party is mounting pressure on sitting Lucknow MP Lalji Tandon to leave the seat to BJP chief Rajnath Singh.