PETALING JAYA: Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his faction in the Barisan Nasional component are pushing for a snap poll because the Bagan Datuk member of parliament has ambitions of becoming the next prime minister.
Sacked Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman made this claim in his tell-all press conference today.
The Pasir Salak MP claimed that Zahid's call for the 15th general election (GE15) to be held as soon as possible was also "bait" for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to call the polls.
"All these statements about PM (Ismail Sabri) becoming the poster boy is all (just) a bait for him to call the polls early.
"This is because he (Zahid) still wants to contest (in GE15). He still wants to be the president of the party if Umno wins the election.
"Perhaps, he (Zahid) also wants to become the prime minister," said the Pasir Salak Umno division chief.
Furthermore, claimed Tajuddin, Zahid would be the one to decide on parliamentary seats in GE15.
"He will decide who contests where. Even my area (parliamentary constituency) has become his target.
"It is okay, since I have served as an MP there for four terms," he said.