‘Modi for PM’ call from Yashwant Sinha appeals BJP senior leaders

The ‘Modi for PM’ call from Yashwant Sinha appears to be finding traction within BJP with more senior leaders endorsing Gujarat chief minister’s credentials to lead the party in the 2014 election. While Ram Jethmalani described Modi as ‘100% secular’, Bihar chief of BJP, CP Thakur, said meetings of the BJP parliamentary board and NDA should be convened to formalise the Gujarat chief minister’s candidature for the top post.

“Modi has the appeal to lead BJP. He can energise the cadre for the big combat,” Thakur said. Former minister Yashwant Sinha had on Monday kicked off the debate on the issue within BJP and NDA by seeking the announcement of Modi’s candidature at the earliest. But the clamour for Modi has evoked opposition from NDA constituents JD(U) and Shiv Sena.

While JD(U) said that the issue should be decided by NDA, Shiv Sena said it preferred the candidature of Sushma Swaraj. “We feel Sushma Swaraj is the suitable candidate for PM's post,” Sanjay Raut, MP, Sena spokesman, told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray had pitched for Swaraj as BJP-led NDA's prime ministerial candidate following MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s presence at the Gujarat chief minister’s Sadbhavana fast. Udhav Thackeray’s reservations about Modi also reflected in Saamana, recently, when an editorial criticised him for allowing the Pakistan cricket team to play a match at Rajkot.

However, anther ally, Akali Dal, said the leadership decision should be left to BJP. “It is BJP’s right to select its leader. Of course, it has to be discussed in NDA,” said Naresh Gujral. As the row over Modi’s projection gained momentum, BJP stuck to the stated line that the party will take a decision at an appropriate time. “All this shows that people are fed up of Congress and UPA. They want a corruption-free government. We will take a decision at the right time,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said at a press conference responding to queries on the demands from within the party, and Shiv Sena favouring Swaraj as the prime ministerial candidate.