LK Advani holds a bow and arrow at a rally at Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh. (PTI)

Varanasi/New Delhi, Oct. 13 (PTI): L.K. Advani today said his yatra was not aimed at “repackaging” himself but the veteran BJP leader did not fail to remind the people in Uttar Pradesh that they should press the EVM button next year to stamp out corruption.

“People ask me if this yatra is to repackage Advani. My answer is very clear that it has no link with me or the BJP. It aims to generate self-confidence among the people in this hour of deep dejection,” Advani said while flagging off Jan Swabhiman Yatra led by national vice-president Kalraj Mishra in Uttar Pradesh.

Advani spoke after BJP leader Uma Bharti claimed that he was the “most capable person” to lead the country in the present situation.

Welcoming Advani’s yatra here, Uma said in the past Vishwanath Pratap Singh had raised the issue of corruption in Bofors and gone on to become the Prime Minister.

“Advaniji is the most capable person to lead the country in the present situation,” she said adding that though Advani “would turn 84 in November, he retained the enthusiasm of a 12-year-old”. Uma said.

As his yatra crossed Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly polls are due next year, Advani said the state should take lead in rooting out corruption.

“Confidence of the people was shaken when they heard about spectrum case, Mumbai land scam and corruption in the Commonwealth Games project,” Advani said. The BJP leader said Uttar Pradesh being a crucial state, it was important that corruption menace is fought effectively.

“I have done six yatras, but from the response generated by this yatra it seems that it will give positive return,” Advani said.

Praising senior leader Murali Manohar Joshi, he said Joshi “exposed” the Prime Minister and the then finance minister in the 2G case.

Speaking on the occasion, Joshi alleged that the Congress was creating hurdles in probe into 2G case.

“There is scam everywhere and allegation are being levelled against the CAG after it assessed 2G scam to the tune of Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 1.76 lakh crore,” he said.

If Uma thought Advani was the most capable person to lead the nation, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha added his bit by saying that there were many competent persons, including him, fit for the task.

Caught in a piquant situation, the party sought to downplay the issue saying a decision on it would be taken closer to the general elections.

Sinha said there were several capable leaders in the BJP for the Prime Minister’s post and he, too, had the capability to be one. Sinha also sought to downplay the reports of differences between Advani and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. He, however, did not identify any of them.

BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said: “On who will be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the BJP, Advani has himself said several times that the party will take a decision ahead of the next general polls.

“Party president Nitin Gadkari has also clarified this several times. All else is just speculation,” she said.

She further maintained that a decision would be taken by the party “nearer the elections”.

“It’s merely a media creation and nobody is talking so within the BJP,” the former Union minister said on the reported tussle between Advani and Modi because of their perceived ambitions for prime ministership.

“Since, the debate within the Congress is gaining ground that AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi could take over the mantle from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before completion of the present term of UPA ministry, media, in a balancing act, has created similar plot in the BJP, too,” he said.

On whether he could also be a candidate, the former finance minister said: “Why not. Does anybody have doubt on my capability?”

He said the party would decide close to the elections who should be projected as the prime ministerial candidate or whether or not anybody should be projected at all.

When pointed out that Advani’s Jan rath yatra was seen as linked to his prime ministerial ambitions, Sinha sought to emphasise that the two were not linked.