Patna: BJP`s Bihar unit on tuesday defended its resolution that Narendra Modi be declared Prime Ministerial candidate by the party without delay in the face of disapproval by its central leadership, saying the move was in deference to the sentiments of party workers.
"The resolution was adopted at Bodh Gaya in deference to sentiments of the party workers from Bihar and vociferous demand by the delegates," Leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly and BJP leader Nandkishore Yadav told reporters.
"We did what the party leaders and workers desired from us that the state unit should adopt a resolution urging the BJP central leadership to convene its parliamentary board meeting and clear the Gujarat Chief Minister`s candidature for the PM`s post," he said.
Yadav refused to dwell on the disapproval of the resolution by the central leadership and offered no comments.
The Bihar BJP had, during its state executive in Bodh Gaya on Saturday, adopted a resolution unanimously urging the central leadership to nominate Modi as its prime ministerial candidate, a decision that raised the hackles of the central leaders, including the party president Rajnath Singh.
The resolution was moved by BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and seconded by Nandkishore Yadav.
Rajnath Singh had reportedly expressed displeasure at the resolution and reportedly rebuked the state unit`s senior leaders--Sushil Kumar Modi and Mangal Pandey-- when the two armed with a copy of the resolution, called on him in New Delhi on Sunday.
He also told the Bihar leaders in no uncertain terms that he knew his job well and would decide on when to convene the parliamentary board meeting to take a call on the party`s prime ministerial candidate.
Rajnath Singh on Sunday passed a virtual gag order on state units not to pass any resolution demanding that Modi be declared the prime ministerial candidate and announced that a decision on the issue will be taken after consulting all top leaders.
He passed the strictures at a meeting of the Modi-headed BJP Election Campaign Committee, state unit presidents and organisation general secretaries in Delhi.
PTI
