Jabalpur, Sept 15: Senior BJP leader Kushabhau Thakre today categorically said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi should not tender his resignation even on moral grounds over the severe indictment of the Modi government by the apex court in Best Bakery riot case. Thakre, party's former national president, was addressing newspersons here after conclusion of his three-day tour of Madhya Pradesh and giving guidelines to the party workers as preparations for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
To a query, he said the results of the Assembly polls in five states would not be a `referendum' on the Central NDA government headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
When asked about the broken BJP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP leader claimed that it would have no impact on BJP's prospects in the forthcoming assembly elections in five states.
Referring to Yashodhara Raje Scindia's displeasure on the respect to her by BJP leadership in the state, Thakre said the issue has been sorted out and "she would now work with all her might for the state assembly elections with BJP leadership".
Final announcement of names of BJP candidates in the state is likely to be made in October next and BJP would fight these elections on its own strength, he said adding, winning candidates having no criminal record would be chosen for the state Assembly elections.
"BJP would be the first national party to apply the `code of conduct' strictly in these elections," he said.
Bureau Report