Advani claims he is not in the race to become Prime Minister

Satna (Madhya Pradesh), Oct 14 (ANI): Rubbishing reports that he was using his ongoing nationwide 'Jan Chetna Yatra' campaign as a political platform to promote himself for the prime ministerial candidate, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Lal Krishna Advani on Friday said nepotism was a concept that strikes at the roots of democracy, and almost all the parties in the country rampantly practice it.

"Nepotism is the biggest enemy of democracy and it is not practiced in our party. Therefore, I have said that when the time comes for elections, our party will decide who will be the candidate for the post of prime minister," said Advani.

Emphasising that the BJP does not follow the practice of nepotism, Advani taking at a dig at the ruling Congress Party said that his party would decide the next candidate for the post of Prime Minister in a fair and transparent manner.

"I am not in the race to become the prime minister and the rights to decide this is reserved to our party, we do not practice family lineage or dynasty in our party. You should appreciate this quality. In India, only Communist Party and our party do not practice nepotism, otherwise, in other parties; they do not even consider the candidate's ability," he said.

Advani began his 38-day long 'Jan Chetna Yatra' from Bihar's Sitabdiara village on Tuesday.

Advani's journey to take on the UPA Government on the corruption issue and press for return of black money stashed away abroad is going to encompass 23 states, four Union Territories, which will include 100 districts and 7600 kilometres.

During the yatra, Advani would be boarding 14 special aircraft and six helicopters. He has to visit a total of 46 places across the country. The 38-day long yatra will conclude in Delhi on November 20 in the form of a massive rally.

Ostensibly to campaign against corruption, the yatra is seen by many political parties as motivated by the upcoming general elections to be held in 2014.

Advani had organised a similar yatra in the 1990"s, to mobilise support towards building a temple dedicated to Lord Rama in Ayodhya.

In 2004, he had taken out another chariot procession to reiterate the demand to build the Lord Rama temple in Ayodhya. (ANI)