'I don't aspire to be CM': Pralhad Joshi in poll-bound Karnataka

Bengaluru: Union Minister and senior BJP leader from Karnataka, Pralhad Joshi categorically said on Monday he does not aspire to be Chief Minister as he wishes to continue to work directly under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the central level.

The four-time Lok Sabha member from Dharwad defended the BJP's ticket distribution strategy for the May 10 Assembly elections in the State, which sparked some rebellion by those who missed the bus, saying it was aimed at generational shift.

On whether he aspires to be CM, Joshi said: "No. Absolutely no".

"I feel I am fortunate to work directly under Modi, I have never seen in my life such a personality", the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Minies, told PTI in an interview here.

Joshi said Modi's tenure as Prime Minister would figure in golden letters when the history of India is written in future. As Parliamentary Affairs Minister he got lots of opportunities, he said, highlighting the period when Article 370 of the Constitution was abrogated.

"So long as I have the blessings of God, people and the Prime Minister, I wish to remain there (at the central level under Modi)", he said.

Joshi said the BJP is not facing much anti-incumbency in poll-bound Karnataka.

"Wherever it (anti-incumbency) is there, in the majority of cases, it's against the individuals who are MLAs or Ministers. That we have addressed in a different way already, and as a party as a whole, there is no anti-incumbency or there is very less anti-incumbency. We have already addressed (anti-incumbency) which you have seen while changing many candidates and other things", the Minister said..

Joshi did not agree with the perception in some quarters that the BJP could have handled the ticket distribution exercise better.

"What will happen when you want to bring the change...when you want to bring the new faces, when you want to make the change of generation, then some people accept it , one or two people have not accepted it, and have left the party. I am quite confident that it will not have any impact.and BJP will win and form its own government for the first time", he said.

Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi quit the BJP after being denied ticket to contest and joined the Congress recently.

Joshi dismissed suggestions that the BJP is putting all its might to defeat Shettar and Savadi, who are now on the field as Congress candidates and it has become a matter of prestige for the party.

He said the party is organisationally very strong in the region and is working towards the victory of its candidates who are fighting against Shettar and Savadi.

"All 224 seats are prestigious, unless you take each seat very seriously, you cannot come to power. Every single seat matters", Joshi said.

Asked if the BJP is going to make a member of the Lingayat community Chief Minister in the event of the party returning to power, he said: "Our Chief Minister is already a Lingayat leader, natural leader. He is our natural leader, he is our Chief Minister. Wherever there is a Chief Minister, we do not announce the next Chief Minister candidate which is very natural".