Get ready for ‘Modi’fication of Bharath!

BJP elevates Narendra Modi as poll panel chief for 2014

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is set to lead the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Party president Rajnath Singh on Sunday announced Modi’s elevation as BJP’s poll panel chief for the upcoming Assembly elections and the General Elections.

Addressing party members at the meet, the BJP president said, “The country is looking up to the BJP. We need to get prepared for the elections and Modi is the most appropriate person to lead the party to the elections…he is the most popular chief minister.”

Following the announcement, senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj garlanded Modi on the stage.

Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh congratulated Modi, but ruled out any comparison between the Gujarat Chief Minister and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

The big ticket decision was taken at the BJP National Executive in Goa despite strong opposition from party veteran L K Advani and his supporters. Reportedly, Advani had offered a compromise formula, suggesting that Modi be appointed as the convenor and not the chairman of the poll panel.

However, the suggestions were kept aside in the wake of strong voices of support for the Gujarat Chief Minister from within the party.

Advani, who was reported to be sick, skipped the BJP National Executive meet for the first time in his entire career. He was backed by several other senior leaders like Yashwant Sinha, Uma Bharti and Jaswant Singh, who also chose to remain absent from the meeting.

Modi, who arrived in confidence amid a rousing welcome at the three-day conclave, had a string of leaders clamouring to anoint him as the party’s prime ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Following this, the BJP had said that the “big announcement” would be possible on Sunday.

Party president Rajnath Singh, who has appeared to be on Modi’s side, in his inaugural address to the meet had said all would go home “happy and enthusiastic”.

Modi telephones L K Advani, thanks supporters

“Senior leaders have reposed faith in me. We will leave no stone unturned for Congress Mukt Bharat Nirman. Thanks for support & blessings,” tweeted Naredra Modi, soon after BJP Party presidentRajnath Singh on Sunday announced him as BJP’s poll panel chief for the upcoming Assembly elections and the General Elections.

The Gujarat Chief Minister also informed the public through twitter that he spoke to party senior leader LK Advani and sought his blessings. “Spoke to Advani ji on the phone. He gave me his blessings. Honoured and extremely grateful to receive his blessings,” Modi tweeted.

The Marriott hotel in Panaji where the BJP national executive was held in the last two days, burst out in celebrations as the announcement was made public. “Inside the hall there was nonstop clapping for about ten minutes as BJP president announced Modiji’s name as campaign chief,” a BJP leader said.

Earlier, Narendra Modi hit out aggressively at the UPA while speaking at the BJP National Executive meeting. Modi said that the country needs to be free from Congress rule to move forward.

“Congress-free country is not politics but a programme nationalism. People of India are angry with Congress,” said the Gujarat Chief Minister. Modi also mentioned Sardar Patel in his fiery speech. “Statue of Sardar Patel should be bigger than Statue of Liberty.”

Taking on Congress’s advertisement, Modi said, “Their campaign – Bharat ke nirman mein haq hai mera sounds like Bharat ke nirman mein shaq hai mera.”

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