As all talk Narendra Modi, BJP feels it has edged out Rahul Gandhi Now

NEW DELHI: The growing view among political parties that Narendra Modi has turned into a factor has pumped up the BJP’s belief that it has a clear edge in any Modi-Rahul Gandhi showdown.

There was acknowledgement of the Modi factor from two allies of the UPA—the National Conference and the NCP. While J&K CM Omar Abdullah told reporters in Jammu that Modi would be a factor in the polls, NCP’s Tariq Anwar said the Gujarat CM would have to be confronted effectively.

Earlier, reacting to the Congress party seeking a ban on opinion polls, JD(U) general secretary Shivanand Tiwari had said, “The Congress’ is displaying its nervousness over Modi by seeking a ban on opinion polls. The party’s stand on opinion polls borders on the ridiculous. In a Modi versus Rahul fight, the BJP’s PM candidate is way ahead.”

Tiwari, who had earlier backed his party’s decision to snap ties with the BJP over Modi, recently told a party convention at Rajgir that Modi should not be taken lightly.

With BJP’s rivals moving away from established positions on the party’s chances at the upcoming polls and the pull of its PM candidate, the BJP has once again brought up its favourite subject—the expected Modi-Rahul Gandhi clash.