Did we not accept Advani in 2009?'

Published : Nov 04, 2011 00:00 IST

Sharad Yadav: "We are ready for midterm elections." - RAJEEV BHATT

Sharad Yadav: "We are ready for midterm elections." - RAJEEV BHATT

Interview with Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav.

NATIONAL Democratic Alliance (NDA) convener and Janata Dal(U) president Sharad Yadav rules out projecting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance. He also rubbishes media speculation about a tussle in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over this issue, saying the NDA's prime ministerial candidate is chosen by consensus, and no single party can impose its choice on the alliance. Excerpts from a conversation with Frontline:

In the wake of L.K. Advani's rath yatra, there is speculation in the media that he is projecting himself as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate against the majority view in the party, which favours Narendra Modi. What is your take on this?

Where has the BJP said that Advani should not be the prime ministerial candidate, or where has it said that Narendra Modi is its choice?

Just because the media are speculating, it cannot be dubbed as the party's viewpoint. We will comment when the BJP officially makes its choice known.

But would you accept either Advani or Modi as the prime ministerial nominee? During the Bihar Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar did not allow Modi to campaign in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar never said he would not allow Narendra Modi to campaign. As for accepting either Advani or Modi, did we not accept Advani in 2009?

But Nitish Kumar spoke openly against the use of his photo with Modi during the campaign.

Yes, but his objection was only about the use of the photo and the publicity for the aid being given to Bihar.

Why should the BJP always project its candidate as the prime ministerial candidate? Don't you think other NDA partners, like your party, should also have that privilege? Why can you or Nitish Kumar not be the NDA's prime ministerial candidate?

Is our party big enough to aspire for the Prime Minister's post? We don't have the strength. As for Nitish Kumar, it is wrong to project him as the Prime Minister. He himself has ruled it out, so that question does not even arise. It is immaterial what the media speculate.

Why is it that the NDA has not been able to corner the UPA government on the issue of corruption? Why has that role been usurped by Anna Hazare?

It is wrong to say that the NDA has not cornered the UPA government on the issue of corruption. Even before Anna Hazare started his campaign, we had organised a complete Bharat bandh. Twenty-seven people are still in jail. Both inside Parliament and outside, the entire opposition has been raising the issue forcefully. It was because of our forceful intervention that people became aware of the scams. The issue had already gripped people's imagination when Anna Hazare came on the scene and got the benefit.

Do you think that with Anna hijacking the corruption agenda, your fight against corruption has been weakened?

No, not at all. People's movements actually complement political movements. Any campaign keeps the issue alive, it keeps people aware. So there is nothing wrong with such movements.

Do you agree with the perception that the government is doddering under its own weight and midterm elections are imminent?

Looks like it. We are ready for that.

But the NDA does not look as strong as it was a few years ago?

Yes, the NDA has got weakened. Many parties have left us. Our number has gone down substantially. But we are talking to many people and in a month's time, some things will become clear. At this moment I cannot disclose whom we are talking to as this might create problems for them.

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