- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman declines BJP’s offer to contest Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu due to lack of funds for campaign.
- She expresses concerns about winnability criteria based on community or religion, highlighting ethical considerations.
- Sitharaman pledges to support BJP’s electoral efforts by campaigning for other candidates while emphasizing personal financial autonomy.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made an intriguing decision regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
She has opted out of contesting despite an offer from the BJP to run in either Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu.
The reason she gave for declining the offer is quite surprising – she cited financial constraints and concerns about the criteria for winnability, which sometimes consider factors like community or religion.
During a recent media interaction, Sitharaman explained that she simply doesn’t have the necessary funds to finance a campaign.
She expressed her gratitude to BJP President JP Nadda for the offer but ultimately decided against it.
In her own words, “I do not have that kind of money to contest.” This decision underscores an important aspect of political campaigns – they often require substantial financial resources, which not everyone may possess.
Sitharaman highlighted her concerns about the winnability criteria used by political parties. She mentioned factors like community or religion, which sometimes play a role in candidate selection.
Sitharaman expressed her discomfort with such criteria, stating, “I 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?” Her decision not to contest reflects a reluctance to engage in a process where such factors might influence candidacy.
Importantly, Sitharaman emphasized the distinction between her personal finances and her role as Finance Minister. She pointed out that her salary, earnings, and savings belong to her and are not public funds.
This assertion underscores the principle of personal financial autonomy and highlights Sitharaman’s commitment to ethical conduct in public service.
Despite declining to contest, Sitharaman remains actively involved in the electoral process. She has pledged to support and campaign for various candidates, demonstrating her continued commitment to the BJP’s electoral efforts.
Sitharaman mentioned her plans to participate in media events and campaign alongside candidates like Rajiv Chandrasekhar.
This indicates that while she may not be running for office herself, she remains dedicated to contributing to her party’s electoral endeavors in other capacities.