Kanchi Shankaracharya wades into Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi war, backs Gujarat CM

Rahul Gandhi may not be the right person to lead the country, Kanchi Kamakoti Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi has said while backing BJP's Narendra Modi for the top job, raking up controversy over the foreign origin of ongress chief Sonia Gandhi.

In an exclusive interview with ET NOW , the seer raised objections to the Nehru-Gandhi scion due to his mother's Italian parentage, an issue BJP raised unsuccessfully during 2004 polls.

Supporting Modi's PM bid, the Shankaracharya said, "Narendra Modi is a man of great qualities. Considering that everyone else in the system is bad and dirty, Modi is a suitable candidate, and he has my blessings."

The remarks have come at a time BJP is seeking to turn the next elections into a direct contest between Modi and Rahul Gandhi, and the Gujarat CM appears to be falling back on his party's Hindutva pitch to firm up his appeal. While Modi is expected to be named BJP's PM candidate, the Congress has resisted demands to project Rahul as its candidate.

The seer slammed Congress for what he said was an attempt to play the communal card in the name of secularism. "Everything should be done in a dharmik manner. Trying to get Muslim and Christian votes in the name of secularism is wrong. Everyone should believe in their faith and work together to get God's blessings," he said.

The Shankaracharya lavished praised on former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, saying it was unfortunate the country lost them prematurely.