The timely bypoll victory in four Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat ahead of the BJP’s national executive meeting is a shot in the arm for Chief Minister Narendra Modi. With opposition within the party on the wave, he is likely to be appointed in charge of party’s campaign committee for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Leading the Opposition’s charge against the UPA Government for “poorly conceived” anti-terror body, the Gujarat CM hogged the limelight on his visit to the national capital. During his packed itinerary, he met senior party leader L K Advani and party president Rajnath Singh to seek their “blessings.” Later, he met envoys from 20 Latin, Central American and Caribbean countries who hailed his strong leadership skills.
In the backdrop of these developments, the clamour for Modi to be made the party’s prime ministerial candidate is bound to get louder during the two-day party meeting in Goa. Though, the PM candidate issue is not on agenda, Modi is likely to dominate the proceedings, party sources said. As the BJP wrested six seats earlier held by the Congress, Modi said: “The Congress had won all of them, but today people of Gujarat have given the Congress a fitting reply. The Congress is in bad shape. I thank all voters for this win.”
The Gujarat CM kept the buzz around him alive with frequent tweets. “Rajnathji has called for a celebration of the BJP’s victory in Gujarat bypolls. Honoured to be part of celebrations at his residence at 2 pm,” the CM tweeted.
Hailing Modi’s efforts, Rajnath told reporters: “There is anger among the people against the UPA Government for its failures. This victory shows that the BJP will get a thumping victory in the Lok Sabha polls.”
Modi again tweeted: “Going to meet Shri L K Advaniji.” The observers did not fail to recognise the significance of the message. Party sources said when Advani called on the Gujarat CM to congratulate him for the BJP’s victory, he offered to meet him. He sought Advani’s blessings and offered him sweets. As reports suggested, Advani has agreed to his heading the poll campaign committee.