Even as BJP leaders slipped into their first huddle on day one of a key party conclave, a string of leaders already appear to have given Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a thumbs up as far as the road to lok Sabha polls is concerned.
The man who set the ball rolling was Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who called Modi as the man who could “catapult” BJP’s fortunes in the next general elections.
“Modi can catapult BJP to power. He will take us closer to Government formation at the Centre,” Parrikar had said.
Parrikar, on Friday, firmly held the Gujarat Chief Minister’s hand as he escorted the latter out of the Dabolim Airport onto the vehicle
waiting to drive Modi to the Goa Marriott resort, 40 km from the airport, where a meeting of the party office bearers’ is being held on Friday.
It is being attended by
the members of BJP’s Parliamentary board, the highest decision making body in the party, general secretaries, and State chiefs of the party. BJP stalwart lK Advani, who was expected to be present, stayed away from the Friday meeting citing “ill health”.
Prakash Javadekar who is already here said that he expected “something concrete to come out of the meeting”, even as sources said that Modi was tipped as the party’s campaign committee chief for the lok Sabha polls which are expected to be held in 2014.
Senior BJP leader Balbir Punj also expressed confidence in Modi’s leadership.
“Modi is ready for a bigger role,” he said.
Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP national general secretary and newly appointed in-charge of Bihar used military analogy to explain the importance of Modi to the electoral fortunes of the party. “There is no doubt that Modi is the best commando we have. And in a war, we use our best weapons and commandos,’’ Pradhan said.
“The party workers and the common people are filled with excitement at his (Modi’s) name. As the party president has always said, he is the most popular leader,’’ he further added.