Not in race for deputy PM, says Jaitley

With Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal reportedly pitching Arun Jaitely as Deputy Prime Minister if NDA comes to power, the senior BJP leader today played down the suggestion, saying he was not looking for positions.

"These are comments made in the course of a campaign. I can you assure you I am not looking for any positions," Jaitley said.

Speaking at a public rally in Amritsar yesterday, Badal had said, "If voted to power, he (Jaitley) will be deputy prime minister or finance minister".

Jaitley said, "I think what he (Badal) probably has in mind is and quite legitimate...A lot of people who have met me in Amritsar also believe that Amritsar and Punjab need a good voice at the Centre and probably that is one of the expectations from me.

"And with humility and modesty, I must say that I am reasonably qualified to be that effective voice of this region in Delhi," he said.

Jaitley, however, stressed that he was not looking for any position.

"It's a storm in a tea cup. Everybody knows these are comments made in the course of campaigning and as I have said, I have never looked for a position".