| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's comment that leader of Opposition LK Advani's elevation as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate was a reaction to the fear that Narendra Modi will demand space at the Centre, continued to create ripples in the political circles. |
| A day after Singh's remark, Advani said that it was tantamount to an admission of defeat by the Congress in Gujarat. "I am a bit surprised at the prime minister's statement. It only shows the Congress has admitted that they cannot compete with Modi in Gujarat. Modi will emerge victorious," he said. |
| BJP leaders reacted angrily, decrying the PM's comment on their internal affairs. It was an unusually aggressive comment by Prime Minister Singh and took many in the BJP by surprise. |
| "It is a virtual admission of defeat by the Congress, if it feels that Modi is larger than life. After all, Modi is the chief minister of a state and till now, his role in national politics has been limited. Therefore, why his name should be dragged into a party decision taken at the central level is beyond us," said a senior leader in the party. |
| Advani, meanwhile, will be travelling to Gujarat on Thursday and will remain in the state till the second phase of polling on December 16. |
| After casting his vote in his parliamentary constituency of Gandhinagar, Advani would leave for Himachal Pradesh, where too Assembly polls are on, said a senior party office-bearer. |
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