ARAU: Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is plotting to become the next prime minister despite endorsing Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as BN's poster boy for the 15th General Election (GE15).

Former deputy communications and multimedia minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, who was dropped by BN from contesting in Padang Besar, where he was the incumbent, claimed Zahid had taken advantage of the BN candidates' selection process to strengthen his grip on the party.

"We can see Zahid is eyeing the prime minister post but let's not forget that he has multiple court cases, and this will make it even more difficult for Umno to win (the GE15).

"Supposedly the candidates' selection was done by the Umno Top 5 but personally I think it was done unilaterally by the president himself, although some of the party's top leaders disagreed with the list," he told reporters at former Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim's service centre here today.  

Zahidi and Shahidan were among a number of Umno big guns who were dropped by BN.

BN had picked national Umno Puteri wing leader Zahida Zarik Khan to replace Zahidi for the Padang Besar parliamentary seat.

Zahidi further alleged that Zahid was using GE15 to consolidate support to free himself from his criminal cases while compromising Umno.

"In this case, they are using the MPs' election process to free someone from court cases, but this has placed the party members in a dilemma.

"I believe the Umno grassroots in Padang Besar are torn between supporting the party and defending the Umno president."

He added that Zahida's selection as BN candidate also went against the grassroots who preferred a local candidate over an outsider.

Zahidi also announced that he would be defending the Padang Besar seat in GE15.

But did not say if he would be contesting as an independent candidate or would do so under another party's ticket.

However, speculation is rife that he would be contesting under a Perikatan Nasional ticket.