JOIN USNeither BJP chief Amit Shah or Home Minister Rajnath Singh are ready to talk of a post-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh (UP) is a taboo for now.
The talk of a post-poll alliance involving the BJP has gathered momentum as assessment by various parties indicates a close finish.
Shah and Singh, however, continue to exude confidence that the BJP would manage on its own. The home minister indicated that the party would have crossed the 300-mark but for the last-minute alliance stitched by Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
Shah on Wednesday ruled out any post-poll alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party or any other party in the event of a hung Assembly saying that he was confident that the party will get “full majority”.
As Uttar Pradesh goes to the fourth phase of voting on Thursday, the BJP is wary of questions as to who will be the chief minister if it wins.
Shah also said that the BJP’s decision of not naming a chief ministerial candidate was part of the party’s poll “strategy”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah will decide on the chief ministerial candidate once there are indications of a clear victory, say party insiders. Modi would prefer a younger and energetic person who has the ability to deliver on governance as well as manage caste equations.
The fact, as the BJP’s opponents point out, is that the party is hamstrung by the absence of a popular face. Second, the caste factors prevent the party from naming any person, lest it affect other leaders belonging to different castes.
Singh has dismissed talks of him becoming chief minister. When asked if he would like to be the chief minister, Singh said, “Hum se kaun poochta hain? (Do I have any say)”, adding, “I am home minister and will remain home minister.”
Singh had stated in an earlier interview that he had left UP politics but would abide by whatever the party decides.
Singh, who was chief minister between 2000 and 2002, also strongly refuted the Opposition’s charge that Modi was trying to polarise elections.