The excitement around Modi-for-PM-candidate similar to what it was for Nehru: VHP leader

Allahabad: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad seems close to endorsing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to be the Bharatiya Janata Party's Prime Ministerial candidate. VHP leader Ashok Singhal has told CNN-IBN that the excitement around Modi for PM can be equated to the excitement that surrounded Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as he became PM for the first time.

"When the first election took place, the masses wanted Nehru to be PM. After that something like that has never happened. But what I'm seeing now is that masses are nominating Modi to be PM. Something like this has never happened since Nehru," Singhal said.

The VHP held the second day of its meet in Allahabad, where there are expectations that it will endorse Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate.

The VHP held the second day of its meet in Allahabad, where there are expectations that it will endorse Modi as PM candidate.

Senior VHP leader Praveen Togadia on Tuesday ducked queries on the likelihood of VHP pressing for projection of Narendra Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate. "I will only say the VHP is committed to helping the Hindus achieve what is their due," he told reporters in Allahabad when asked about the possibility of VHP pitching for Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.

"As stated on a number of occasions, we favour a Hindutvavadi Parliament sensitive to the majority community's needs," the VHP international working president said. On persistent queries on Modi, Togadia quipped "may be this is a question that Rajnath Singh will like to answer."

(With additional information from PTI)

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