Lok Sabha polls: BJP mocks P Chidambaram; accuses FM of running away from contesting

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister P Chidambaram's decision to opt out of the Lok Sabha polls came under fire on Friday with BJP accusing the FM of 'running away from contesting'. "It shows the mindset of senior Congress leaders. They have no will to fight, they have conceded defeat," said Nirmala Sitharaman of BJP.

Mocking Chidambaram, Sitharaman added, "It's symbolic that the Finance Minister is running away, he is not will to face the public."

Ravi Shankar Prasad also hit out at Chidambaram saying, "The biggest spokesperson of UPA's economic policy is running away because he knows that defeat is certain."


The Sivaganga seat in Tamil Nadu that Chidambaram won by a narrow margin in 2009 has been given to his son Karti Chidambaram. Finance minister P Chidambaram's absence from the list came as no surprise as he had already said he was willing to make way for the younger generation.

On his part, Karti Chidambaram who will contest instead of his father, said, "I am greatly honoured that Congress has given me an opportunity to contest from Sivaganga." "He (Chidambaram) has contested 9 elections, so he thought it is time for him to step aside from electoral politics," Karti said.

"Congress is not on a weak wicket. We are going to face the people with a straight bat," Karti added.

Congress was keen that Chidambaram be reelected to the Lok Sabha because he would be a formidable voice in the parliamentary contingent should the party not regain power.

But the finance minister's argument, one senior Congress leader said, was that minus an alliance with DMK, Congress on its own will most likely not be in a winning position in Sivaganga. The party had explored other options for Chidambaram, including Puducherry and even Kanyakumari, a senior party leader said. "But the sitting MP of Puducherry refused to vacate his constituency," said the person quoted earlier.

Chidambaram, who is believed to have given suggestions to party president Sonia Gandhi on how Congress can be revived in Tamil Nadu, has offered to campaign extensively in Tamil Nadu. Among his suggestions on improving Congress prospects in Tamil Nadu is the proposal that younger Congressmen be given more responsibility.