NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has rejected the party leadership’s request to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party’s national president JP Nadda had earlier demanded the present union finance minister to choose any seat from Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu which she deemed winnable. However, Nirmala Sitharaman curtly denied the request citing her financial condition.The union minister denied the chance to contest after pondering about it for almost 10 days. Along with that, Nirmala Sitharaman stated that she could not decide whether to opt for Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. Sitharaman also expressed contentment that her final decision was accepted by the party leadership.

When queried about the finance minister of India admitting to not having enough money to contest elections, Nirmala Sitharaman replied that the consolidated fund of India is not hers but belongs to the people of the country.

“What I have is my earnings, my savings and my money” the union minister opined.

Alebit rejecting a chance to contest elections, Nirmala Sitharaman is included in BJPs star campaigners’ list and she will reach Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday to campaign for NDA candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar.