Not in race for CM’s post, says JP Nadda
S HIM LA: Considered close to Prime Minister Na rend ra Mo di and the blue-eyed boy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah, Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda’s political rise has been meteoric. Nadda, who has been extensively touring Himachal Pradesh ahead of the assembly elections, say she is not in race for the chief minister’s post of the hill state.
Speaking to Hindu stan Times on Thursday, N add a said ,“I have never thought about it. Competition and race are alien words for me. My work and organisation are above everything.”
A year ahead of the assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh, N add a had signal led his return to the state and people had started considering him a front-runner for the post of chief minister. While the party is yet make a choice, Nadda continues to campaign for the saffron party candidates.
While the Congress has declared its chief ministerial candidate, it has been asking the BJP to do the same. The minister says, “Deciding candidates is a matter of strategy. We had declared the chief ministerial candidate ahead of polls in Maharashtra, Karna- t aka and Assam. In Uttarakh and, however, we did not declare the candidate and the party also did not declare a face for UP. Party will take a call at the apt time.”
On the saffron party’s poll plank, Nadda says development and corruption-free government is the agenda. “Congress is a party with no road map or vision. Time and again this has been proven in Him ac hal Pradesh and they have not made any contribution. While progressive steps were taken during BJP regimes, regressive decisions were taken during Congress,” he says.
Slamming the Himachal Pradesh chief minister, Nadda alleges Virbhadra Singh represents symbol of Congress and corruption .“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 the rebel problem, the Union minister said, “The BJP has placated most of the rebels. There are only a few left in the fray. We have succeeded to que ll rebellion on some seats. The B JP is in a very comfortable position so it is natural that ambition and aspirations will be high this time.”