New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was campaigning for BJP candidate Shankar Lalwani in Indore on Sunday, said that Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan was the only BJP leader who could admonish him. PM Modi said, "As the Lok Sabha speaker, ‘Tai’ (as Mahajan is popularly known in the constituency) has carried out her duties in a skilful and controlled way. It is because of this that she has left an indelible impression on the minds of people"
“All of you know me as prime minister. But perhaps very few people know that in our party (BJP), if there is anybody who can admonish me, it is Tai,” Modi said in the presence of Mahajan, who was seated on the dais.
“Tai and I have worked in the BJP together. The kind of dedication she has towards work, I assure the people of Indore that in terms of development of the city, none of Tai’s wishes will be left unfulfilled,” the prime minister said.
Outgoing Lok Sabha Speaker and eight-time MP from Indore, Sumitra Mahajan had announced that she will not contest the Lok Sabha elections. She had, however, maintained that she would continue to work for the BJP and campaign for it. The BJP had later announced the candidature of Shankar Lalwani for the Indore Lok Sabha seat. He will be fighting against Congress’s Pankaj Sanghvi.
The BJP had an undeclared rule of not offering any ministerial post to its MPs above the age of 75 with many in the saffron party advocating for not giving tickets to those who crossed the age bar. Mahajan turned 76 last month.
Polling for the Indore seat will be held on May 19, in the last phase of parliamentary polls.
