After terming Narendra Modi's claims on growth during the NDA regime as a "fake encounter of facts", Finance Minister P Chidambaram again targeted BJP's prime ministerial candidate, saying the hype surrounding him was "largely media created". But the minister, in an exclusive interview to news agency Reuters, also conceded that the Gujarat Chief Minister had "gained some traction among the urban youth", while also managing to unite "the rank and file of BJP". He also added that Mr Modi was no Vajpayee, BJP's iconic former prime minister, and had a "very, very checkered track record."
