New Delhi, September 04: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is eying a bigger national leadership role and is positioning himself for a power struggle in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), say US diplomatic cables made public by online whistleblower Wikileaks.
New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is eying a bigger national leadership role and is positioning himself for a power struggle in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), say US diplomatic cables made public by online whistleblower Wikileaks.
In an assessment going back to 2005, the cables suggest Modi could be the most popular BJP leader and a potential PM candidate. “Anecdotal evidence suggests Modi could be the most popular leader in the BJP and there is increasing momentum to make him the party figurehead and next choice of PM? says a cable sent after Modi was denied a US visa in 2005.
The cable also claims that the BJP’s move to make Modi the prime ministerial candidate would unite the secular parties.
“In a BJP beset by internal struggle, Modi’s revival sets him up nicely to influence the kingmaking when the time comes. Having recovered from the crisis invoked by our visa revocation and his tyrannical management style, Modi is positioning himself as a national leader by reminding people that Gujarat has done a fine job of economic governance, notwithstanding the black stain the (2002) riots left,” a cable says.
“At present, Modi appears stronger than at any time,” a cable says.
Modi was a star campaigner for the BJP in the 2009 elections which the Congress and its allies won.
Alluding to the cancellation of the visa application, the cables say Modi bears permanent resentment against the US for the “humiliation”.
——IANS—-