New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has revealed that she turned down the BJP’s offer to contest in the elections citing financial constraints.
During the TIMES NOW Summit 2024, Sitharaman expressed her inability to meet the financial demands required for contesting Lok Sabha polls.
According to Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP President JP Nadda presented her with the option to contest from either Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. However, after careful consideration for a period of about a week or ten days, she conveyed her decision to decline the offer due to financial limitations and concerns about various other factors determining winnability.
“After thinking for a week or ten days, I 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,” NDTV quoted her as saying.
Sitharaman expressed gratitude towards the party for accepting her decision, emphasizing that she would not be contesting in the elections.
Responding to why the country’s Finance minister has no funds to fight the polls, Nirmala Sitharaman said the Consolidated Fund of India is not at her disposal.
As the ruling BJP gears up for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections commencing on April 19, several existing Rajya Sabha members have been fielded as candidates, including Piyush Goyal, Bhupender Yadav, Rajiv Chandrasekhar, Mansukh Mandaviya, and Jyotiraditya Scindia. Sitharaman herself represents Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha.
Despite not contesting, Nirmala Sitharaman asserted her commitment to the party’s cause by expressing her intent to actively participate in campaigning for other candidates. She revealed her plans to attend various media events and accompany candidates on the campaign trail, exemplified by her upcoming participation in Rajiv Chandrasekhar’s campaign.
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