Goa is lucky for Modi

Every word and action of a politician is liable to be interpreted in terms of symbolism and superstition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Goa, his first visit outside Delhi after his oath of office, was one such occasion. On Saturday, Modi was in Goa to dedicate to the nation its largest warship, the INS Vikramaditya. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders attributed the choice of Goa as Modi's first official visit to his "belief" that the state was lucky for him. They said the BJP's National Executive selected Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections at its meeting in Goa in September 2013. It was also in Goa, over a decade back, that Modi had faced the worst crisis of his nascent career as the Gujarat chief minister, but managed to survive. In April 2002, Modi had offered to quit as Gujarat CM at the BJP National Executive meeting. The meeting took place a month after the Gujarat riots. But Modi survived after his resignation was rejected.