Arun Jaitley downplays 'deputy PM material' assertions by Parkash Singh Badal

New Delhi: Senior BJP leader and saffron party candidate from Amritsar Arun Jaitley on Saturday downplayed assertions that he is deputy PM material should the NDA return to power in the forthcoming general elections.

Responding to BJP’s ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which asserted that he would be either deputy-PM or finance minister in the event of NDA forming the government, Mr Jaitley said, “These are comments made in the course of a campaign. I can you assure you I am not looking for any positions.”

He also said, “I think what he (Mr Badal) probably has in mind is quite legitimate... A lot of people who have met me in Amritsar also believe that Amritsar and Punjab need a good voice at the Centre and probably that is one of the expectations from me.”

Stressing that he would be the voice of Punjab in Delhi he said, “And with humility and modesty, I must say that I am reasonably qualified to be that effective voice of this region in Delhi.”

Answering another question on the same subject the BJP leader said, “It’s a storm in a tea cup. Everybody knows these are comments made in the course of campaigning and as I have said, I have never looked for a position.”

Backing Mr Jaitley to the hilt, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a rally on Friday in the holy city said, “If voted to power, he (Mr Jaitley) will be deputy prime minister or finance minister.”