BJP cites ‘nation’s mood’, makes Modi PM candidate, dumps Advani

The BJP has finally declared Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. Ignoring veteran party leader LK Advani, the party’s highest body—the parliamentary board—declared Modi as its PM candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Moments after he was named the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Modi pledged to lead the party to victory in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election. [caption id=“attachment_1107807” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. AFP[/caption] “I promise that in the 2014 election, the BJP will emerge victorious,” Modi told the media at the party headquarters. Although he was flanked by a galaxy of senior party leaders at the press conference what was more glaring was the absence of Advani. “And for this, the party will work hard and we will leave no stone unturned,” Modi said in a brief speech. He said the country was passing through a crisis and the BJP ensure that India comes out of this phase. “I request the country to bless BJP so that we can save the country from the situation it is in.” “I am sure that people from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will vote for the lotus symbol,” Modi said of the BJP’s election symbol. The Gujarat chief minister also thanked the BJP saying, “The BJP has given a small person like me who comes from a humble background a huge responsibility.” Announcing his candidature, party president Rajnath Singh said, “The Parliamentary Board has decided that Modi should be projected as the party’s prime ministerial candidate. Judging the nation’s mood and that of the party cadres we have decided to take this decision.” “We have a tradition of declaring the prime ministerial candidate of the party in the year that elections are being held to the Lok Sabha. Since we expected the polls to be held between 2013-14, I called for the parliamentary board meeting,” Singh said. “I congratulate Modi_ji_ on his appointment and we are confident that the people will back us and that the next government will be formed by the BJP.” Singh added that all the NDA allies have supported BJP’s decision to anoint Modi as the party’s PM candidate. Modi was greeted by top leaders of the party including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi. It has to be mentioned Swaraj and Joshi agreed to Modi’s anointment after much cajoling. With agency inputs