Amid confusion as who would be chief ministerial candidate for BJP in 2017 elections, party’s UP in-charge Om Mathur clarified that party will not project anyone as chief ministerial candidate and leave the matter for legislature party to decide.
“We have many leaders who have the potential to be next Chief Minister of UP. But we will not contest 2017 polls projecting anyone as Chief Ministerial candidate. This has been a tradition in party that legislature party elects its leader and we will follow that,” Mathur told a select group of reporters here on Sunday.
There are speculations about who would be BJP’s CM candidate and take on Akhi;lesh Yadav (SP) and Mayawati (BSP). Names like Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani who has taken up cudgel against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is taking round. Some even suggest that Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh could be CM face for BJP in next elections.
“This is clear that we will not project anyone as Chief ministerial candidate in UP polls. We will contest elections on our strength and will take a final call as and when we cross the bridge,” he said.
Mathur, who had successfully led party to victory in Gujarat elections feels party is in a better position to win election here. The central government is doing very good work. We need to go to people and tell them about the achievements of Modi Government. “In next month and a half party will launch special campaign educating people about the achievements of the central government,” he said.
The BJP leader however admitted that fringe issues like JNU controversy has taken centre stage pushing the good work of the government to back seat. “The negative news has taken away precious time of ours. Therefore, we need to start awareness campaign,” he said.
When asked about Congress strategy to rope in Prashant Kishore - PK – BJP leader said single man cannot do anything. “You need to have a base to put scheme of things in action. Where is Congress base in UP,” he asked.
“No single person can help a party to win or lose an election. You (media) have hyped him unnecessarily,” Mathur said.
Kishor had successfully managed Narendra Modi’s campaign in lok Sabha polls and Nitish Kumar in Bihar Assembly elections from behind the scene.
Regarding nomination of a new state president, he said it would be done soon. “The present state president is already working,” Mathur said.