JULY 30- Amid a raging controversy over a group of MPs writing to the US President for denying visa to Narendra Modi, BJP president Rajnath Singh has said he found an overwhelming support from the Indo-American community for the Gujarat chief minister but the issue has to be decided by the US authorities.
“That is an issue which the US administration has to decide. But my US trip was a positive signal for the BJP as we found an overwhelming support and we hope that the same Indian community can put the point across,” Singh, who returned from the US on Saturday night after a weeklong trip, told Mail Today.
Modi not discussed
The BJP chief made it clear that he had not discussed the Modi visa issue with the US officials.
Asserting that the BJP will score a big win in the forthcoming general elections, Singh said party patriarch L.K. Advani’s supportive comments were “most heartening” and had sent positive signals that all’s fine internally”. Advani, who has been at odds with the Singh camp of late, which is firmly backing party’s unofficial Prime Ministerial candidate Modi, had said on Saturday that “BJP is going for a record breaking victory in next general elections”. Talking to Mail Today, Singh said: “Advaniji is a very experienced politician who never exaggerates anything… his observations and comments are result of his own introspection. If he sees BJP going for a landslide, then we’re definitely going for it.” The BJP chief, however, refrained from commenting on senior party leaders voicing dissent or backing Advani over Modi, or if there will be a threat from such leaders in the next elections.
There is nothing like anti-Advani and anti-Modi brigades in BJP, which is better than the Congress when it comes to leadership camps.
We’re a united party and we are going for a big victory in the next elections with our collective efforts and not due to any single individual.” He avoided comments on whether Modi effect will be a factor for the BJP in the elections.
When prodded further, Singh said, “Elections are far away and it is too early to forecast the numbers. The BJP campaign has started to gain momentum and we’ll definitely score more than the surveys. Modi is definitely a popular leader.” But will an early decision on PM candidate matter? “That is something the Party’s Parliamentary Board has to decide,” he said. “The scene will get definitely clear and focused after that, but we’re working at a steady pace and the campaign will peak at the right time.” He hinted that UP and Bihar are high on priority of the party to garner maximum seats. It will serve twin purpose: more seats in Bihar will be a great boost to the BJP after split with the JD(U); and in UP, it will be regaining the stronghold. “We’re aiming over 30 seats in UP and want to increase our tally in Bihar,” he said adding, the polarisation has already started to work in BJP’s favour in Hindi heartlands. “Even in Karnataka, where we lost in last assembly elections, you might see a different result in 2014 polls.”
INDIA TODAY
