FM Nirmala Sitharaman declines BJP ticket, says ‘don’t have money' to contest Lok Sabha polls
- In Reports
- 10:47 PM, Mar 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that she turned down the offer from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to participate in the forthcoming elections. She explained that she lacks the necessary funds to run for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
Sitharaman said that BJP President JP Nadda offered her the opportunity to run for election either from Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. However, she declined the offer, citing her inability to afford the campaign expenses.
While speaking at the Times Now Summit 2024, the finance minister said, “After thinking over a week or ten days, I just went back to say... maybe not. I do not have that kind of money to contest.”
“I also have a problem whether it is Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. It's also going to be a question of various other winnability criteria that they use...Are you from this community or are you from that religion? Are you from this? I said no, I do not think I am going to able to do it,” she added.
"I am very grateful that they accepted my argument...So I am not contesting," she added. When asked why even the finance minister of the country does not have enough funds to fight Lok Sabha elections, she said that the Consolidated Fund of India does not belong to her.
She said, "My salary, my earnings, my savings are mine and not the Consolidated Fund of India".
However, Sitharaman asserted that she will remain involved in the BJP's election campaign. She intends to participate in media events and actively support various BJP candidates, including Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
Although Sitharaman has opted out of contesting in the upcoming elections, the BJP has nominated several current Rajya Sabha members, including Piyush Goyal, Bhupender Yadav, Rajiv Chandrasekhar, Mansukh Mandaviya, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, to run for seats.
Till now, BJP has released seven list of candidates for the upcoming general elections, fielding party heavyweights like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh in its initial lists. BJP's surprise candidates like actress Kangana Ranaut and Sandeshkhali violence survivor Rekha Patra also made headlines the past week.
Image source: ANI
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