Describing the victory in Gujarat as a vote for Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership admitted that chief minister is a very senior leader who is extremely popular both within the party and country and whose views are taken seriously.
However, BJP leaders said that the decision on Prime Ministerial candidate would be taken only after talking to all the allies of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and senior leaders within the party.
“This is a 5th straight victory for BJP in Gujarat and third victory under Narendra Modi. People have voted for Narendra Modi, for the BJP government and of course people have voted also because of national politics,” said Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
Although Jaitley didn’t elaborate what role BJP leadership would decide for Modi at the centre, the senior leader admitted that Modi was the most popular leader who is always taken very seriously within the party.
“Narendra Modi is a very senior leader and he is extremely popular both within the party and also with the people. His views are always taken very seriously,” said Jaitley while taking about the victory in Gujarat.
Senior leaders of the BJP also said that the setback to Congress party in the state was significant because Shaktisinh Gohil, Siddharth Patel and Arjun Modhwadia have all lost their election with considerable margins while performance of Keshubhai Patel’s party was also not very significant.
“The vote for Narendra Modi defies caste and community and BJP has performed better in tribal areas also. This kind of voting cannot happen if a community is being targeted but only if people are comfortable with the leader. Even minority community people have voted in favour of BJP.
Gujarat has changed since 2002,” Jaitley added.