Modi among six BJP leaders for PM post: Gadkari

Dismissing reports of a split in the NDA on the issue of its prime ministerial candidate, BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Friday said Narendra Modi is one among the six BJP leaders who could be projected for the top political post .

"Modi is one of the six PM candidates of BJP along withAdvani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and M MJoshi. No decision has been taken yet," he said.

Gadkari broke his silence on the Nitish-Modi rift
Gadkari  said that as far as he was concerned, there was no problem with Nitish Kumar on Narendra Modi being projected as the face of NDA in the 2014 elections but any decision would be taken only after consulting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is a key ally.
   
 He refuted reports that after Gujarat elections, Modi will be projected as Chairman, National Campaign Committee of NDA.
 Asked if Nitish's choice for PM is Advani, he said, "I don't know what is on Nitish's mind regarding Advani. He has not mentioned any name to me."
 

 L KAdvani's controversial statements

 Gadkari described Advani as his 'philosopher and guide' but dismissed the BJP veteran's 'Non-Cong, Non-BJP PM in 2014' prophecy.

"NDA will form the government in 2014 and there will be a PM from BJP at the helm of affairs," Gadkari said. He said all allies of NDA would be back in the fold if BJP won 170 seats in next elections.

BJP President admits political compulsions

The BJP President admitted political compulsions had forced him to dump Sanjay Joshi from the party and bow to B S Yeddyurappa's pressure while removing D V Sadananda Gowda as Karnataka Chief Minister.
    

"It's all in the larger interest of the party. My first priority is the interest of the party. Ours is not a mother-son proprietary concern. It is democratic and everyone has a voice in it. That's BJP 's strength. Due to political compulsions, there are occasions when one has to roll back a decision," Gadkari said.

He also shrugged off reports that RSS was having a re-think on him getting a second term as BJP President."I didn't ask for a first term and I am not asking for a second term. Gadkari has never asked for anything in the party. If the party gives another opportunity, that's good. If it doesn't, that's fine with me," Gadkari said.