10 Jan : In the midst of former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat raking up the issue of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, the party has said L K Advani would occupy the top post if NDA regains power at the Centre."The NDA would win the Lok Sabha polls with a comfortable majority and L K Advani would become the country’s next prime minister," BJP President Rajnath Singh told a press conference at Bhopal on Saturday.
The BJP president claimed more allies were joining NDA. Singh, however, declined to comment on Shekhawat’s move to contest Lok Sabha polls saying "if you respect a person, you do not talk much about him".
Shekhawat had created a flutter when he said he had plans to contest Lok Sabha polls if his health permits amid media speculation that his idea could be a challenge to BJP prime ministerial Advani for the top post.
"Those who have taken a dip in the Ganges do not go for a swim in the well," Singh had said, to which Shekhawat had hit back saying "I never demanded a ticket from BJP and if the party does not want to allot ticket, it is the party’s sweet will. I have nothing to do with it".
Over Rajnath’s statement that someone who had held a key constitutional post should not indulge in electoral politics, Shekhawat had said India’s first Governor General C Rajagopalachari had contested elections and had become the Chief Minister of Madrass after leaving the post.
The BJP president denied Shekhawat’s statements had caused any problem to BJP. BJP demands white paper on cost price of petroleum products The BJP has demanded a white paper from the government on the cost price of petroleum products.
"The government needs to come out with a white paper on the cost incurred and the profits made on the petroleum products. While petroleum minister has hinted at a price cut in the coming week, he is silent on why there is disproportionate profits made by oil companies," party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters at New Delhi on Saturday.
While the oil companies make profit, the common man is suffering and is paying a heavy price, he said.The cost of oil in international market has come down from USD 140 to USD 40 but the UPA government has cut prices by only Rs 2 in diesel and Rs 5 in petrol, which is an injustice to people, he added.
"We want the government to come clear with the actual cost of the petroleum products, the cost incurred by the companies and the cost at which the government gives it to the states," Javadekar said.
Petroleum minister Murli Deora has given a signal to cut cost by Rs 5 in petrol, Rs 2 in diesel and Rs 25 in LPG.This indicated price cut is again disproportionate to the international fall in crude oil costs, he added.
The saffron party had earlier alleged that the UPA combine was holding back a further price cut in petroleum products due to their "political timetable" and were aiming at reaping election benefits from it.