# “I don’t have money to contest Lok Sabha election”: FM
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has decided not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election, citing financial constraints and other factors affecting her winnability. Sitharaman made this announcement at an event in New Delhi, stating that she does not have the financial resources required to run a campaign.
Speaking at the event organized by media outlet Times Now, Sitharaman mentioned, “Party did ask me but after thinking over it for a week or 10 days, I just came back to say, maybe not.”
She explained further, “I don’t have that kind of money to contest. I also have a problem because, whether it is Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu, it is also going to be a question of various other winnability criteria that they use. Are you from this community or are you from that religion? Are you from this… I said no. I don’t think I will be able to do it.”
Nirmala Sitharaman, a prominent leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), currently serves as a member of the Rajya Sabha and holds key portfolios in the Union Cabinet, including the Finance Ministry and the Corporate Affairs Ministry.