New Delhi, June 1
The BJP yesterday took strong exception to the Congress’s move of approaching President
K. R. Narayanan on the issue of the forthcoming presidential election and then stating that he has an ‘open mind’ for a second term.
“Fault lies with the Congress. It should not have approached him (Mr Narayanan) and then revealed that he has an open mind (for a second term),” BJP President Jana Krishnamurthy told newspersons here.
It would be wrong to construe that the BJP had reservation against Mr Narayanan, the BJP President pointed out adding that the party only wanted to follow certain conventions and it would not be a healthy tradition to field him for a second term.
To a question, Mr Krishnamurthy said no impoliteness was involved in the Prime Minister telling the President yesterday that the NDA did not favour a second term for him.
He said the choice of presidential candidate had been left to the Prime Minister, who was talking to leaders of different parties, including the opposition. “The consultations are not over. Let us wait for some more days,” he said.
Asked if the Vice-President could be the NDA candidate for the high office, the BJP chief evaded a direct reply saying that “so many names are in circulation”.
Mr Krishnamurthy said the BJP would strive for a consensus and if no consensus could be reached, there would be election.
In another development, Mr Krishnamurthy sought to deny newsreports about his quitting the post saying that these are merely “kite flying” and “specualation”.
The reports in this regard were baseless, he remarked when his attention was drawn to a report on his interview to a newspaper wherein he had said that he was ready to leave the post if there was any official claimant for it.
It was also reported that he had written two letters, one each to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister expressing his desire to retire.
“I have been totally misquoted,” he said and added that he had written the so called letters to Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani about eight to nine years back wherein he had expressed desire to retire from active politics and go back to his family. “But his request was turned down by both leaders.’’
“I have failed to understand why I have been misinterpreted,” he said. He had only told the interviewer that he had not sought the post when had been given to him by Mr Vajpayee, Mr Advani and the party’s National Executive. “If anybody wants to occupy this post he should have the approval of Mr Vajpayee, Mr Advani and the National Executive and he would step down,’’ he said.
Mr Krishnamurthy said he was fully satisfied with the responsibility entrusted on him and he was presently regalvanising the party and preparing it for coming poll in some states.
After the recent changes at the organisational level, he was trying to involve a large number of BJP members in organisational work, he informed.
In reply to a question, he said there was complete understanding and coordination between the government and the party.
