Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced her decision not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, stating financial limitations as the primary reason. She disclosed that she turned down the offer extended by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to contest from either Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu, emphasizing that she lacks the necessary funds for such an endeavor.
During her speech at the Times Now Summit 2024, Sitharaman revealed that BJP President JP Nadda had presented her with the option to contest in the upcoming polls. However, after deliberating for a week or so, she concluded that she couldn’t afford to participate financially. She highlighted concerns over various criteria like community and religion playing roles in determining winnability, which further solidified her decision.
Sitharaman expressed gratitude for the understanding shown by the party leadership regarding her financial constraints. She clarified that her personal finances, including salary and savings, were not sourced from the Consolidated Fund of Bharat, and therefore, she couldn’t finance a campaign from those funds.
Despite her decision not to contest, Sitharaman affirmed her commitment to contribute to the BJP’s election campaign. She pledged to participate in media events and campaign for various BJP candidates, including Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
While Sitharaman opted out of the electoral race, the BJP has nominated several prominent candidates for the upcoming elections. Notable figures like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Rajnath Singh feature in the party’s initial candidate lists. Additionally, the surprise nominations of actress Kangana Ranaut and Sandeshkhali violence survivor Rekha Patra have garnered attention in recent weeks.
The BJP’s strategy for the upcoming polls includes fielding existing Rajya Sabha members such as Piyush Goyal, Bhupender Yadav, Rajiv Chandrasekhar, Mansukh Mandaviya, and Jyotiraditya Scindia. With seven lists of candidates already released, the BJP aims to fortify its campaign with a diverse array of candidates, combining seasoned politicians with fresh faces.
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