In an indication that the BJP does not rule out Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as one of its prime ministerial candidates, despite stiff opposition from its key ally JD(U), the saffron party has decided to “seriously consider” its this issue after the Gujarat Assembly polls.
Despite JD(U) opposed to Mr Modi, a Hindutva icon, as the BJP-led NDA’s PM candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the saffron party is considering Gujarat CM’s name. The RSS has already made it clear that it favours a PM “who believes in Hindutva ideology or propounds the view.”
Though names of senior leaders including party chief Nitin Gadkari and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley are also doing the rounds in the party circle as the PM candidate, Mr Modi is considered as the top choice of BJP cadre. The BJP is confident that it will not only retain power in Gujarat but will win more numbers as compared to last assembly polls. A section with the party wants BJP to announce its PM candidate ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, which it feels will enthuse its cadre. There are also talks that BJP parliamentary party chief L.K. Advani is also an aspirant for the post.
Speculations are rife that Mr Modi, a PM post aspirant, will be brought at the national political scene after the Gujarat Assembly polls. However, the party is also wary of the fact that any move to bring Mr Modi, who is blamed for the post-Godhra riots, at the national level will also intensify opposition’s onslaught against him. It is also aware that its key ally JD(U) might snap ties if Mr Modi is projected as the PM candidate. Sources disclosed both the RSS and BJP top brass are aware of the fact that the sangh parivar cadre is in favour of Mr Modi as the PM candidate. Though a section within RSS is concerned over Mr Modi’s way of functioning, it is also aware of the growing demand within the sangh to project him as the PM candidate.