After by-poll win, Modi set to be BJP’s campaign head

Zee Media bureau

New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi`s chances of being appointed the head of the BJP`s campaign committee for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections has brightened after his party’s by-poll victory yesterday. Reports, Thursday, said that Modi, already a front-runner to become the party’s official face for the next General Elections, is most likely to be appointed the head of BJP’s campaign committee and strategy for the next Lok Sabha polls. Armed with a stunning 6-0 victory against the Congress in by-elections, Modi yesterday met BJP chief Rajnath Singh and then party veteran LK Advani, who is believed to be heading a faction that is opposed to Modi. During the 15-minute meeting, Advani and Modi discussed the forthcoming national executive meeting in Goa and the proposal for setting up a campaign committee. Advani had earlier phoned him to congratulate him on the party`s impressive show in the by-elections. Party sources indicated that the national executive may discuss the issue of making Modi the head of the campaign committee and an announcement to this effect is likely. There is a growing clamour among the cadre and vast sections of BJP leadership for making Modi the head of the committee. The Advani-Modi meeting held significance because it came amid strife within the party epicentred around Modi`s rising status. Advani, once known as Modi`s mentor, has reportedly opposed Modi`s promotion to a national-level leader of the BJP and to his being projected as the face of the party for the national elections, due in May 2014. However, the BJP veteran has agreed to Modi heading the committee that will handle election strategy for the BJP for the 2014 General Elections. He had recently suggested that former party president Nitin Gadkari and not Modi be picked as the leader of the committee, but Gadkari has said a polite no. As a compromise, Advani has suggested that two committees be created - one for the national elections, headed by Modi, and another for the elections due in important states over the next few months, which would be fronted by Gadkari. Advani wants both to be announced simultaneously at a BJP meet in Goa this weekend, to convey that Modi is one of a group of senior leaders, rather than the party`s top man. The top leadership is said to be mulling over whether two committees - an election management committee for the forthcoming Assembly polls in five states and a campaign committee for the Lok Sabha polls - should be formed or a single panel be constituted for both. Modi has already sounded the poll bugle when he said the by-elections results were an ultimatum and message to the Congress to pack up and go in the next Lok Sabha Elections. He said the results were an indication of the people`s anger against the Congress-led UPA at the Centre. With PTI inputs