This Article is From Aug 01, 2013

Narendra Modi to be BJP's PM candidate, announcement before assembly polls: sources

Narendra Modi to be BJP's PM candidate, announcement before assembly polls: sources
New Delhi: Narendra Modi could be named the BJP's candidate for Prime Minister for 2014 as early as September this year, party sources have said.

The party sees the Gujarat Chief Minister as its star vote catcher and reportedly wants to cash in on his popularity in the Assembly elections in four big states at the end of this year. So, the sources said, a Modi announcement could be expected before the notification of the Assembly elections, expected around September 21.

Today, BJP president Rajnath Singh will meet senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS leaders, including chief Mohan Bhagwat. He is expected to finalise the party's blueprint for the elections at that meeting, and, as part of that exercise, get a go-ahead on Mr Modi's anointment.

The BJP and RSS reportedly reckon that general elections, due in May next year, are unlikely to be held before February and they want Mr Modi to get a six-month window to build his campaign as the official face of the party. That would mean a September announcement.

By then, the party expects to reconcile all the residual opposition among senior leaders to Mr Modi.

The RSS chief has played an important role in quelling that opposition. Mr Bhagwat has held a series of meetings in the last few weeks with different BJP leaders, including LK Advani, who had protested against Mr Modi being made the BJP's election campaign chief last month.

Mr Bhagwat, who had intervened to end Mr Advani's public sulk, has assured the senior leader that he will continue to play an important mentoring role in the party, but has also made it clear that no more dissonance will be brooked. Mr Advani has since made speeches that demonstrate an acceptance that Mr Modi is likely be the face of the BJP in the next general elections.

The RSS chief also met Mr Modi and handed him a set of dos and don'ts, including the advise that he must base his campaign on collective leadership.

In keeping with that, the BJP has announced Team Modi 2014 -  20 star-studded committees to manage different aspects of the party's election campaign under Mr Modi's stewardship. (Read: 20 committees, power balanced between big hitters)


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