The three-day conclave of BJP today kicked off with the spotlight on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, projected by some as the party's Prime ministerial face, amid voices in the party that his popularity has grown significantly to make a mark on the national polity.
The Conclave, convened mainly to ratify the Presidentship of Rajnath Singh who took over in January, will see the party deliberate on its roadmap in the run up to the next general elections besides discussing the political and economic issues confronting the country.
BJP will chalk out a strategy to project itself as an alternative in the next general elections at the meeting of its National Council starting tomorrow.
In the national executive meeting today, the rising stock of Modi was visible as party leaders, including Rajnath Singh, gave him a special welcome and noted that the European Union is recognising his achievements.
Modi was lauded by Singh for achieving the unprecedented feat of winning three consecutive assembly elections in Gujarat, with Singh saying no other BJP chief minister has such a record.
"The party president accorded a special welcome to Narendra Modi. He has created a new record among the BJP chief ministers by being the first to be re-elected for the third consecutive term with a very convincing majority. All the national executive members also welcomed him," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference.
Singh appreciated Modi's performance again in his speech when he criticised UPA government's "failure" to revive the economy.
"There's a growing interest in Modi as the PM candidate. This is due to a groundswell building up among the people...I think Modi has made a huge mark on Indian polity," Jaitley told a news channel.
