Setting at rest the speculation that Gujarat CM Narendra Modi could contest the coming 2014 lok Sabha elections from lucknow, sitting BJP MP lalji Tandon ruled out the possibility of his contesting again.
Tandon explained that there was no proposal of either Modi or national BJP chief Rajnath Singh contesting from lucknow.
Rumours regarding Modi contesting from lucknow had been doing the rounds following the Gujarat CM’s elevation to chief of the party’s poll campaign and his projection as the Prime Ministerial candidate. lucknow has been a Saffron stronghold for more than the last two decades.
Partymen felt that since Modi was all set to replace Atal Bihari Vajpayee and be the party’s mascot in the lS polls, there may be a possibility that he could contest from Vajpaayee’s lucknow seat.
Tandon dismissed rumours that Murli Manohar Joshi and Kalraj Mishra were interested in contesting from lucknow.
Tandon said that the BJP high command has not discussed about replacing his candidature, but he would abide by the party as a disciplined soldier. As far as Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra were concerned, Tandon said that they had have clearly stated that they were not interested in contesting from lucknow.