Panjim: Goa Chief Minister
Manohar Parrikar on Saturday became the first senior leader in the
Bharatiya Janata Party to openly push for projecting his Gujarat
counterpart Narendra Modi to be the party’s "face" for the forthcoming
General Elections.
Backing Modi, the Goa CM said the Gujarat Chief Minister's projection
would give a tremendous boost to the electoral prospects of the party.
Parrikar also heaped praise on Modi for his "administrative capabilities" and "popularity".
Modi's projection should come at least six months ahead of the Lok Sabha
polls expected around May next year to give "clarity" to the people of
the country who "do not like ambiguity", he told a news agency in an
interview here.
Parrikar's open support for Modi came on the sidelines of BJP's
three-day National Executive which is expected to discuss the party's
roadmap for elections to the Lok Sabha next year and Assemblies of five
states prior to that later this year.
"On the basis of public opinion, definitely Modi should be the face of
the party. I am not saying he should be declared as the Prime
Ministerial candidate. But he has to be the face of the party. This is
what I am getting feedback of people...I know what is wrong and what is
right," he said.
The Goa Chief Minister said he has got "clear signal" about "public
opinion in favour" of Modi because he is in constant touch with the
common people.
"I have some communication with the common people and I get clear signal about that (Modi's projection)," Parrikar said.
He added that the decision in this regard has to be taken by the party's
top leadership and he will respect that even if his view is not
accepted.
Parrikar had two years back described senior party leader LK Advani as "rancid pickle”.
Talking about the National Executive, he said the party should at least
announce a schedule about projecting or not projecting any face for the
next elections.
"Technically, elections are 10 months away...You (party) should set a
timetable... You should decide whether there should be a Prime Minister
(candidate), or probable Prime Minister or give signals. You have to set
up a schedule for that," he said. The Goa Chief Minister insisted that
the projection should be made at least six months before the elections.
"So there are two months still left for that."
Seeking to justify his point, he said, "Considering the psyche of Indian
people, a direct or indirect signal should be given...This is my
personal opinion."
He cited his own case, wherein he was not declared as the Chief
Ministerial candidate but there were "enough signals" about his being
the face of the party which enabled it to come to power.
While putting his weight behind Modi, Parrikar said Modi has already
passed the "first test of popularity" and dubbed as "secondary" the
dispute over his acceptability among allies.
"To form the government, you need to qualify first on popularity and
then on numbers. Acceptability is a secondary factor. Acceptability
factor comes in only when you get numbers (close to forming the
government)," the Chief Minister underlined.
Asked whether Modi has passed that "first test", he replied, "That is what I think."
"Unless you touch 210 (seats in 543-member Lok Sabha) or so, you cannot
form the government," he said, expressing confidence that if Modi is
projected, the BJP along with "allies who stick" could get more than 220
seats.
He felt Modi's projection would help BJP to "poach" on at least two per
cent votes and altogether swing three-four per cent of the votes in
favour of BJP.
Parrikar said Modi has given a "good administration" to Gujarat over
last 10 years and "this is accepted privately even by Congress leaders."
He, however, indicated that an announcement on Modi may not take place
at the on-going conclave as such a crucial decision is not taken at such
a large gathering.
"A pre-manthan (churning) will take place in this meeting...380 people
are assembled (at National Executive). Such a large gathering cannot
take such a decision. It has to be taken by the small group which will
take decision on the basis of feedback from this group," he said.
Parrikar’s statement indicates the growing clout of Modi, who got a
thumbs up from many BJP leaders as far as the road to the Lok Sabha
polls is concerned.
On Friday, Parrikar had said: "Modi can catapult BJP to power. He will take us closer to government formation at the centre."
Parrikar’s statements on Modi had drawn criticism from the Nationalist
Congress Party, which accused the Goa Chief Minister of doublespeak, and
asked why was the Gujarat Chief Minister, if he had so much potential,
not allowed to campaign in Goa in March 2012.
The BJP's national executive and national council meets are being held
at the Goa Marriott resort. The three-day conclave started on Friday.
.jpg)
