New Delhi:
Narendra Modi is likely to named 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. A Modi announcement is likely before the notification of the Assembly elections, expected around September 21.
Today, BJP president Rajnath Singh, senior party leader Arun Jaitley and Mr Modi met Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS leaders, including chief Mohan Bhagwat, and are expected to finalise the party's blueprint for the elections. The RSS is said to have given a "no objection certificate" to Mr Modi's big promotion already.
A top BJP leader told NDTV, "This has to be done. The party cannot go to the polls with Modi only being the de-facto face of the party."
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 residual resistance within to Mr Modi. Yashwant Sinha, seen in the past as anti-Modi, today said emphatically, "I am saying this with absolute certainty that Narendra Modi will be the country's next Prime Minister."
Mr Sinha's words underscore how party leaders are now accepting that Mr Modi will front the BJP in next year's elections. LK Advani, who had staged a public protest against Mr Modi being elevated as the BJP's election campaign chief, has recently made speeches that demonstrate that acceptance.
The RSS chief has played an important role in quelling opposition to Mr Modi. He has held a series of meetings since with several leaders to paper over differences.
Mr Bhagwat has assured Mr Advani and other seniors that they will continue to play important roles in the party, but has said there must be no more hurdles in the way of Mr Modi. Mr Modi has been told to base his campaign on collective leadership.
The BJP's Team Modi 2014 reflects that 20 star-studded committees will manage different aspects of the party's election campaign under Mr Modi's stewardship. The Gujarat CM is in Delhi today to meet his panels.