The main Opposition BJP fielded two spokespersons to take questions from the media on Tuesday on the differences within the NDA over Ms Sushma Swaraj’s remarks.
Senior leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy said what Ms Swaraj said on Monday was said from the BJP platform and not the NDA’s. He also said JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav was only replying to questions from the media. “There is no rift whatsoever between the BJP and JD(U. It is mere speculation and interpretation, which is uncalled for,” he said.
Mr Shahnawaz Hussain, another BJP MP who was with Ms Swaraj when she talked to reporters, said Ms Swaraj had made the point that there would be no deal with the Congress on the presidential election. “Whatever we do, we will do it along with the Opposition. First a discussion in BJP, then in the NDA and with the larger Opposition,” he quoted Ms Swaraj as saying. He also claimed that Ms Swaraj made no reference to Dr Hamid Ansari’s political stature.
In Chandigarh, Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal remained non-committal on the possibility of his father, CM Parkash Singh Badal, becoming the next vice-president of India. “The NDA leadership will jointly take a decision on the issue,” he told reporters while responding to questions. “It will be a collective decision of the NDA leadership,” he said, adding that “at this moment it was too early to comment on the issue”.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday reiterated his party’s support for Dr Ansari, whom he described as a “good personality and appropriate” for the post of President. SP leader Kamal Farooqui said his party would pitch for a “competent” Muslim candidate as it has a good following in the community and wants to do something for it. He floated the names of Dr Ansari, former Rajya Sabha deputy chairman K. Rahman Khan and CEC S.Y. Quraishi for the post. He said his party had earlier backed Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam when he was made President but now the Congress seemed to have reservations.
JD(U) leader and NDA convenor Sharad Yadav on Tuesday distanced his party from the BJP and its strategy. “Whatever Sushma Swaraj has said is the opinion of the BJP. This is not our party’s view. The issue was not discussed in any NDA meeting. The BJP has not discussed the issue with us,” he said. He added that the country is in bad shape and “everybody needs to be on the side of caution on this issue”. Asked whether the JD(U) agreed with Ms Swaraj’s stand, Mr Yadav merely said, “Ours is a different party and theirs is another. Neither have we discussed this issue with the BJP nor have they done it with us so far.”
He also referred to the statement of SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, that there had been no formal meeting of the NDA, to hammer home his point.