Modi has potential to be PM: BJP

Even as Bharatiya Janata Party veteran LK Advani aims to become Prime Minister, many in the party see Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the next holder of the top post.

Even as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran LK Advani aims to become Prime Minister, many in the party see Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the next holder of the top post.

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"In my personal opinion, Gujarat has the chance to elect prime minister (this time) and also the next Prime Minister," party leader Arun Shourie said in Ahmedabad on Friday, referring to Advani, who is contesting from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, and Modi.

He said Modi should be the next prime minister considering the fact that Gujarat has made rapid development under his leadership and the other states today talk of development based on the 'Gujarat model' of attracting investment.

The party endorsed Shourie's views.

"He (Modi) is doing good work in Gujarat. We are proud of him. He has the potential to become prime minister. When and how he will become, the party will decide," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters in New Delhi replying to a query.

He added, taunting the Congess, that BJP does not believe in "dynasty rule" in which the prime minister will be only from one family.

A number of business leaders, at the Vibrant Gujarat Investors' Summit in Ahmedabad earlier this year, had taken the lead in terming Modi as a future prime minister.