Naming Modi as PM candidate to influence poll result: Advani

BJP leader L.K. Advani on Monday said the outcome of no other election has been influenced so much by the announcement of a prime ministerial candidate as they have been this time by declaration of Narendra Modi’s name.

Mr. Advani, who does not share the best of vibes with Mr. Modi and is said to have opposed the Gujarat Chief Minister’s elevation, said he feels “delighted” at the future era under Mr. Modi and showered praise on the party leadership for organising a campaign which is “unprecedented and “without blemish”.

“I don’t remember if the results of an election have been influenced so much as they have this time by the announcement of our prime ministerial candidate and the campaign which began after it...,” he said at the release of the party manifesto.

Noting that he has seen all elections right from the first one in 1952, Mr. Advani said BJP’s preparation this time round has been unprecedented.

“I compare the era after independence, the politics and and now the time which will be under Modi and I feel very delighted.... I can say from the preparation of manifesto to the shape of campaign and inauguration of manifesto, it is all unprecedented. It will be difficult to find fault,” he said.

The manifesto spells out the road map by which India can make the 21st century its own. “We could not do it in 20th century,” he said.

The 20th century, he said, might have belonged to the West but the 21st will belong to India and signs of it will become visible in the five-year rule of BJP.

Almost the entire top brass of the party, including its president Rajnath Singh and senior leaders Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi besides Mr. Modi, were present on the occasion. Mr. Arun Jaitley could not attend it as he was filing his nomination from Amritsar.