Modi's declaration as BJP's PM candidate not a challenge: Congress

Congress leader Renuka Chaudhary on Friday said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's announcement as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections is not a challenge for her outfit.

"It is not a challenge. Someone has to be there as the PM candidate in BJP We are moving forward by doing our work," she said.

Meanwhile, another Congress leader Rashid Alvi poked fun at the BJP, and said the decision to announce Modi as the prime ministerial candidate has been taken by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

"It's not BJP's decision, it's the RSS's decision to appoint him as their PM candidate," said Alvi.

Modi earlier this evening thanked his party's central leadership for giving him such an important responsibility, and expressed confidence that the BJP would emerge victorious in the next general elections.

"The BJP has always given me the opportunity to work for progress and development of the party and the nation in various capacities. Today, the BJP's central leadership has given me a very big responsibility," said Modi.

"With the blessings of the national leadership and love of the party workers, I am sure we will win. I whole-heartedly thank the party workers and national leadership," he added.

Modi assured his party workers and supporters that he would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the BJP emerges victorious in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Modi, who is now meeting party stalwart Lal Krishna Advani, also sought blessings from the people of the country.

He also thanked the NDA partners for their blessings.

BJP President Rajnath Singh earlier announced that his party has chosen Modi as the prime ministerial candidate for 2014.

The announcement came after a meeting of the party's parliamentary board here this evening, which unanimously decided to project Modi as the prime ministerial candidate.

Advani was not present in the parliamentary board meeting.

Several attempts had earlier been made by senior leaders to convince Advani, who had resigned from all party posts when Modi was appointed the election campaign committee chief in Goa earlier this year.

The BJP President even met the stalwart at the latter's residence here on Wednesday, but failed to convince him.