Kolkata: Triggering a fresh row over PM candidate, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh has said that chief minister Mamata Banerjee is the best choice for the post of prime minister, if it's from West Bengal.
"If the selection was to be made from Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has the brightest chance. She is dreaming of becoming the next PM, and therefore I wish her luck. She needs to be in good health, he said on Saturday, adding, "But the ground realty is that Narendra Modi will lead the country again in 2019."
Sensing that his comment could fuel a controversy, Ghosh further said that he doesn't wish to say anything bad about Banerjee on her birthday (January 5). "Jyoti Basu could have been the first Bengali to become the PM but his party (CPI-M) did not allow him. Now, she (Mamata) will be first choice if someone from Bengal is selected," the state BJP president said.
He also criticised Banerjee for opposing Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for president. "People in Bengal will remember how she tried to block Pranab da's candidature," he added.
Four days ago, the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal had projected Bengal chief minister as a possible prime ministerial candidate of any grand Opposition alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However, this is the first time that a leader of the rival camp has vouched for Banerjee.
When News18 contacted BJP national secretary and former state president Rahul Sinha, he refused to comment on Ghosh's statement. Sources said that BJP's central leadership has sought a clarification from BJP state president on the issue.
As the general elections are approaching, controversy over BJP's next PM candidate has surrounded the party. Recently, Maharashtra government's Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission (VNSSM) chairman Kishore Tiwari demanded that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) replace PM Modi with Union minister Nitin Gadkari if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wishes to win the 2019 general elections.
Two days ago, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that more than one Maharashtrian would occupy the prime minister's post by 2050.
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