by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
Modi not to contest from Puri
BJP shows “white Flag” to Naveen Patnaik
PM may contest from Gujrat too
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Jan. 2
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the horns of dilemma when it comes to selecting the second Lok Sabha seat in addition to Varanasi in UP in the ensuing Parliamentary polls in May 2019.
It was speculated earlier that he will contest from the Puri Lok Sabha seat in Odisha as part of the mega plan to conquer the coastal state which has 21 parliamentary seats.
Though the PM ducked the question in a TV interview yesterday when asked whether he would contest from Puri, sources in the BJP told Lokmat the plan was abandoned.
After the outcome of the recent Assembly poll results, the plans have hit a hurdle and the PM doesn't want to contest from Puri at all. If sources are to be believed, he is contemplating to contest from the second seat in his home state of Gujrat. Surely, he can contest from Vadodara Lok Sabha constituency which he vacated in 2014 itself and Ranjanben Bhatt was elected. But he is eyeing the Gandhinagar seat presently held by BJP veteran L K Advani who is now 90 years plus. However, intermediaries are working to find a solution as Modi doesn't want to be seen to be denying Advani Lok Sabha ticket as it may become an emotive issue. Modi has been told by BJP leadership that if he contests from Gujrat once again, the party can retain all 26 Lok Sabha seats.
It now transpires that the BJP high command has sent clear signals to the Naveen Patnaik government that Modi has no plans to contest from Puri. Rather, the BJP doesn't have much of a problem with the Biju Janata Dal government in Odisha as long as it keeps Congress at arms length. The BJD responded positively to these signals with a condition that its dissidents like B J Panda, a former member of the Lok Sabha, should not be patronized. Secondly, the BJD leaders should not be harassed in false cases by the CBI & ED “We have no interest in Delhi politics and Delhi should not look at East either,” Naveen sent the word.
Its largely because of this very reason that the CBI has gone silent in pursuing cases against BJD ministers and MLAs of the Naveen Patnaik government in various scams including Sarada Chit Fund cases.
Ends
