Advani says he is not in race for PM's post

Nagpur, Sep 21 (PTI) Indicating that he may not be in
the race for becoming the party's Prime Ministerial candidate
in the next elections, senior Bhartiya Janta Party leader L K
Advani Wednesday said the Sangh Parivar, his party and fellow
workers had given him "much more" than what the top post
holds.
"I would only say that I first became a Swayamsewak (of
the RSS), then a member of the Jan Sangh and then the BJP. I
feel that what I have got from these organisations, from my
fellow workers and what the country has given me is much more
than the Prime Minister's post," he said.
He was replying to a question from reporters after
meeting RSS (Rashtriya Swanya Sevek Sangh) chief Mohan Bhagwat
There had been reports that the RSS, a right-wing Hindu
outfit, is unhappy with Advani's plans of starting a yatra
against corruption. This was being interpreted as the senior
leader's attempt to throw in his hat for becoming the Prime
Ministerial candidate of the BJP in the next general
elections.
Asked if this was the motive behind his yatra, Advani
said, "I am afraid these are not related."
Advani claimed he had come to the western Indian city of
Nagpur to seek Bhagwat's blessings for the yatra.
"I met the RSS Sarsanghchalak (president) Mohan Bhagwat
and asked for his blessings. He gave me his full support and
blessings and wished him all the best for the yatra," Advani
said.
He also met BJP President Nitin Gadkari and enquired
about his health. Gadkari had undergone a bariatric operation
on September 12 and is recuperating.
"The BJP President will come to Delhi on September 24. I
have asked him to make the announcement about the yatra. By
then, the plan details will also be chalked out," Advani said.
Asked about details of the yatra, Advani said October 11,
which is the birth anniversary of veteran socialist leader
Jaiprakash Narayan, was the tentative date. Sources said the
yatra is likely to begin from Sitabdiara in Saran district of
Bihar, which is the birth place of Narayan.
Advani made light of his meeting with Bhagwat, saying
he keeps talking to him "informally".
"We meet whoever can make a big contribution to the
yatra," he said.
The senior leader said he would go to BJP-NDA ruled
states and insisted these were better governed than others
despite having some shortcomings.
Advani said he was prompted to take out the yatra due to
the 2008 cash-for-vote scam and the washout of the Winter
Session of Parliament in 2010 over opposition demand for a
Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into 2-G spectrum scam.
"But the precipitate action for the yatra was when our
two MPs who had exposed the dirtiest scandal- by acting as
whistleblowers- were sent to jail though they did a good job
and a great service to democracy," Advani said.
Advani maintained that in Parliament, he had named
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P
Chidambaram and told them that if the two MPs were guilty and
then he was "even more guilty" and they should send him too to
Tihar Jail.
"This worst scandal of independent India is a big blot
not only on the political system but also democracy as MPs
were on sale and the government was ready to buy them even if
it cost them crores," Advani said.