It is widely projected that the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, has done a lot of development work and has governed his home State of Gujarat well. Then why is he not contesting from some constituency in Gujarat itself? Why has he opted for >Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh?
G. Stanley Jeyasingh,Nagercoil
The importance given to contesting from Varanasi, a major centre of Hinduism, by Narendra Modi gives it all away. Uttar Pradesh is Murli Manohar Joshi’s State. What does Mr. Modi stand for? Development, or Hindutva? Had it been development, he could have picked a constituency that epitomises economic growth.
K. Anand,Bangalore
The BJP has done grave injustice to Murli Manohar Joshi, a former president of the party, by persuading him to shift his seat to Kanpur from Varanasi. What attracts Mr. Modi to Varanasi, except that it is a holy city? It would have been a fine gesture on his part if he voluntarily gave way to a senior and respected leader. It remains to be seen if Mr. Modi will contest from Gandhinagar also, again showing disrespect to another senior leader, L.K. Advani. If he does so, it will expose his utter disregard for senior leaders in the pursuit of his own interests. How can a person lacking in accommodative spirit successfully run any coalition government comprising parties with different political interests?
More importantly, contesting from two different constituencies itself is unwarranted. If Mr. Modi opts to quit one constituency, it may necessitate a byelection. The Election Commission should frame rules banning the practice of contesting from multiple constituencies.
V.N. Gopal,Chennai
