MP or not, BJP CM hopefuls to contest: Naidu

BJP president Venkaiah Naidu today made it clear that all chief ministerial candidates from the party will contest the Assembly elections. ‘‘Where is the question of their not contesting,’’ he asked. There was considerable speculation on this score after an earlier statement by party general secretary Pramod Mahajan. Naidu also said that the final list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh will be released on November 3, and the list for all four states will be out by November 8.

Asked why the party had changed its stand following Mahajan’s statement, Naidu said: ‘‘Mahajan told me he had said no such thing. The change in the party’s stand takes place only in the newspapers’’.

Confusion had arisen within the state unit following Mahajan’s statements that the party would not be fielding any Member of Parliament to contest Assembly elections. Uma Bharti is currently a member of the Lok Sabha.

These developments have taken place in the backdrop of reports of strained relations between Mahajan and Uma Bharti. Venkaiah also stated that the party would draw up its final list of candidates for MP by October 30 and clearance to the list would be granted by November 3. The list for the other states going to the polls would be ready by November 8.