Dehra Dun: Congress on Sunday said it would not
project any chief ministerial candidate in Uttarakhand, a day
after BJP projected BC Khanduri for the post ahead of the
January 30 Assembly polls.
Buoyed by the declaration of the chief ministerial
candidate, BJP spokesman Satish Lakhera on Sunday challenged
Congress to declare its chief ministerial candidate saying the
opposition party is only banking on its top leadership like
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
"On the front page of the Congress manifesto, there is no
space for state leaders," Lakhera said.
As the pressure mounted on Congress about the issue, a
senior party leader said it is the decision of the high
command.
However, Congress spokesman Surendra Kumar said there is
no tradition in Congress to declare chief ministerial
candidates.
"The leader is only declared after taking the opinion
from the elected MLAs," Kumar said.
Kumar also challenged BJP to declare its prime
ministerial candidate as well as chief ministerial candidate
in Uttar Pradesh.
"If BJP has the guts, it should also declare chief
ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh and prime ministerial
candidate at the centre," Kumar said.
As of now, senior Congress leaders Harish Rawat, Vijay
Bahuguna and Satpal Majaraj are some of the names doing the
rounds as chief ministerial candidates here.
Upping the ante, senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh
yesterday said chief minister BC Khanduri would continue to
remain in the post in case BJP forms the next government in
Uttarakhand.
"Khanduri is the chief minister and will remain chief
minister if we form our own government," said Singh, who is
also in charge of election affairs in the hill state. BJP is locked in a close contest with Congress.
PTI
