BJP MP and eminent lawyer Ram Jethmalani on Saturday said he would enter the Presidential election fray if his party went for consensus on UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee.
Mr. Jethmalani, who is away in Detroit on a holiday, told reporters over telephone that the NDA should not go for consensus on Mr. Mukherjee. “Mukherjee is a friend. I have great appreciation for some of his qualities but have a serious grievance against him that he has concealed the names that Germans and French have given him for those people who are hoarding the nation's wealth outside. Yet he has not done anything.”
He insisted that for him Rashtrapathi Bhavan was not an attraction and he would like to continue with his legal practice. “My job is to educate people. Let us see what the decision of the party is.”
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BJP sources said Mr. Jethmalani's name was not discussed at Saturday's meeting. The party indicated it was keen on a contest and hence Mr. Jethmalani's threat might not have much significance.