Uddhav now says ‘no credible leader’ remark aimed at Cong

On Friday,he had said: “What this country needs is a strong government and a credible leader. Do we see anyone who is the leader of the country? We do not see anyone who can be called the leader of the nation.”

Uddav said in response to a question that he conveyed his “best wishes” to Modi when he had called on him after being named the BJP campaign committee chief.

He avoided a categorical reply when asked to spell out his view on Modi’s candidature for prime ministership. It was for the BJP to first take a decision and then consult its two allies,Sena and the Akali Dal,he said.

On Shiv Sena’s support for Sushma Swaraj for the top job,Uddav said his father Bal Thackeray had backed her when no other leader’s name was in circulation. A decision on the prime ministership,he said,“is to be taken within four walls” and suggested that he had no intention to complicate the issue.

Uddhav said the alliance with the BJP was based on the Hindutva ideology. However,he felt that issues like Ram temple were unlikely to figure prominently in the NDA campaign. “There are more important issues like food and employment concerning the common man due to the Congress misrule,” he added.