BJP hopes to win 200 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 elections: Nitin Gadkari

INDORE: BJP president Nitin Gadkari today said the party would disclose the name of its prime ministerial candidate at an "appropriate" time and at present is focused on winning at least 200 seats "on its own" in the next Lok Sabha elections.

"L K Advani is our senior leader and is a source of inspiration. BJP's top committee will take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time on the issue of who would be the party's prime ministerial candidate," Gadkari told reporters at Indore Press Club.

He was asked whether Advani will be repeated as the party's PM candidate in the next Lok Sabha polls.

We are working on a detailed scheme in this regard and aiming to win at least 200 seats in the next Lok Sabha elections on "our own strength", he said.

For Madhya Pradesh, the party has set a target of winning at least 25 out of the total 29 seats.

"If we are able to win more than 165 seats on our own, then we will not be considered as casteist or communal but progressive and people will ally with us," Gadkari said.

The BJP president further said the party was concentrating on strengthening its organisational base in states like Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and the North-East in view of the general elections.

"Because of rising inflation and corruption there is a negative atmosphere prevailing in the country against Congress but we don't want to win polls by exploiting this situation. Instead, we will launch a positive campaign with a focus on BJP's achievements and providing good governance."