This Article is From Mar 05, 2014

Election 2014: Arvind Kejriwal waiting to see where Narendra Modi will contest, says AAP

Election 2014: Arvind Kejriwal waiting to see where Narendra Modi will contest, says AAP

A supporter throws a floral garland at AAP leader, Arvind Kejriwal upon his arrival for a four-day visit of Gujarat.

New Delhi: The possibility of a Narendra Modi versus Arvind Kejriwal fight in next month's national election looks stronger with the Aam Aadmi Party today saying their chief is waiting to see where the BJP's prime ministerial candidate will contest.

Mr Kejriwal, 45, also did not rule it out as he responded to a question today on challenging Mr Modi with a non-committal, "Let us see."

Shortly after the Election Commission announced polls from April 7 to May 12, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said the party would focus on constituencies featuring the "big candidates" as it had only 30 days to campaign.

"In the case of Mr Kejriwal, he would be looking at where Mr Modi is contesting, in fact that's one of the things all of us are watching (sic)," AAP leader Yogendra Yadav told NDTV.

"We will see whether he wants to play it safe or contest outside Gujarat too."

Mr Modi and his party have not yet disclosed where he will contest from, but there is speculation that he could pick two seats, one in Gujarat and another in Uttar Pradesh, India's most politically vital state.

AAP leaders have dropped strong hints that Mr Kejriwal, who resigned as Delhi chief minister last month, may fight Mr Modi if he contests from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, or anywhere outside Gujarat. AAP leader Manish Sisodia said on Sunday, "Mr Kejriwal will ask Modi questions from Varanasi."

Mr Kejriwal is currently in Mr Modi's turf Gujarat, where he will spend three days "assessing" the Chief Minister's development claims. Last night, on NDTV's Candidates 2014, the former taxman had said that he was "not sure" he would contest the polls.

The one-year-old AAP will contest first national election since its dazzling debut in the December Delhi polls on the back of an unconventional campaign and a promise to root out corruption and VIP culture.

Opinion polls predict that the BJP, led by Mr Modi, will emerge as the largest party but fall short of a majority in the general election that begins on April 7. Results will be declared on May 16.
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