A day after Sushma Swaraj endorsed Narendra Modi as a possible PM candidate, more BJP leaders came out in support and praise of the Gujarat chief minister. Bihar BJP chief CP Thakur went so far as to say, “Sushmaji’s endorsement of Modi... is the broad view of the party leadership... Arun Jaitley and other senior leaders have expressed similar sentiments in favour of Modi.”

At a rally in Gujarat, senior leader Gopinath Munde said, “Narendra Modi is capable of becoming PM and I am satisfied with Sushma Swaraj’s opinion.”

Jaitley said Modi was such a popular and “successful CM” that it was “natural” for the party to keep his name “ahead”.