Modi backs Advani as only prime ministerial candidate

Days after India Inc stalwarts Sunil Mittal and Anil Ambani, projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as fit to become Prime Minister, Modi on Saturday, putting to rest all speculations, firmly backed L K Advani as the BJP’s unanimous contender for the prime ministerial post.

Narendra Modi, in whose tenure Gujarat progressed tremendously well, clarified that the veteran leader Advani is the undisputed contender for the post of prime minister; and he is not.

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Earlier on Friday, BJP elucidated that there had been no change in its prime ministerial candidacy, and Advani is the unquestionable leader of the BJP as well as the NDA.

The party sought to clear the air over Modi being held a potential prime minister by asserting that Modi’s endorsement by India Inc was reflection of good governance in BJP ruled states, and Modi himself was totally committed to see Advani as prime minister.

‘There is absolutely no issue of the leadership either with BJP or NDA. Advani himself projects Modi’s achievements as the chief minister of Gujarat. Advani is the prime ministerial candidate of the NDA, and Modi stands behind him like a rock. There is no scope for any contradiction,’ said the party general secretary, Arun Jaitley, scoffing at rumours of a possible leadership tussle within the party.

Earlier, Chairman and CEO of Bharti Airtel, Sunil Mittal and Chairman of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, Anil Ambani had highly praised Narendra Modi and projected him as the next prime minister

At the valedictory session of the Fourth Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit on January 13, Ambani said, “Gujarat has seen progress in all the fields under Narendra bhai leadership and same will happen across the country if he leads the nation. Person like him should be the next leader of the country.”

Indian corporate honchos’ endorsement of Modi as prime ministerial candidate not only upset many BJP leaders but also enraged Congress and other UPA alliance partners who characterized industry as “always displaying double standards.”

‘India Inc has always displayed double standards. Do business where ever you want but before you endorse somebody see his track records as Modi’s all claims of attracting huge investments were nothing but a myth,’ slammed party spokesperson Manish Tiwari.