Nitin Gadkari says he is not vying for PM's post

BJP president Nitin Gadkari today said he was not in the race for the Prime Ministerial post. "Recently I was asked whether I was in the race for the Prime Ministership, I flatly denied," he told a two-day meet of the UP BJP working committee here.

"All my life I have closely watched some leaders who rose above personal aspirations and dedicated their lives for the cause of the people," the BJP leader said.

On upcoming UP assembly polls, he said only winnable candidates and dedicated workers would be given party tickets. No recommendations would be entertained in this regard, he said.

"I have all the information regarding assembly segments and only winnable candidates and dedicated workers will get the tickets," Gadkari said.

Dubbing some political parties as "Private Limited Companies", he said the BJP was the only party where a system of working in unison had been evolved.

"It’s not the private limited company of Sonia Gandhi or Mayawati where only one person gives orders and others follow.

"The BJP is a democratic party, a party with a difference and this makes us different from others," Gadkari said.

Taking a dig at BSP supremo Mayawati, he asked parks and gardens, on which Rs 10,000 crore were spent, were being constructed for whom.

"Those who talk about Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar are erecting their own statues and garlanding the same.

"Probably Mayawati is confident nobody will install her statue," he said.

The BJP president alleged the SP, the BSP and the Congress had looted the state and were misleading the people by indulging in political gimmickry.

"I am sure when a no confidence motion is brought in Parliament, both these parties will support the UPA again," he said.

Alleging all the three parties were having a tacit understanding, Gadkari said the BJP would not forge alliance either with the SP or the BSP.

"We will prefer to sit in the opposition, but there is no question of any alliance with the SP or the BSP before or after the polls," he said.

The BJP president said the situation was conducive for the party and "if we make some extra effort I will not be surprised if we get majority in the state (UP)."

He said if voted to power, the party would create jobs, improve law and order and ensure basic facilities to the people.

The BJP president urged party workers not to indulge in caste politics, adding "we will give tickets to people of all castes."

Gadkari said he understood political compulsions and ground realities but the main reason behind unemployment and poverty in UP was that those who indulged in caste politics did not took the state towards development.

Lashing out at the UPA government, Gadkari said an accused in Parliament attack case was awarded capital punishment by the Supreme Court, but the order was yet to be implemented.

"Till how long this appeasement will continue?" he asked. On farmers, Gadkari said their condition was "very poor" due to poor policies of the Uttar Pradesh government. On price spiral, he said during Atal Behari Vajpayee’s regime a lot was done to check inflation. "Now, the Planning Commission says a person having an income of Rs 32 per day in urban areas is a rich man. "We need guidance how this can be possible," Gadkari said.