Murli Manohar Joshi backs Modi as BJP's PM candidate

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Friday voiced his support for declaring Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections.

"The whole parliamentary board is supporting Modi. When a proposal comes forward then it should be cleared," he told media here.

All eyes are now set on the BJP's parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi, where the party leaders will try to evolve consensus within the outfit over declaring Modi as their prime ministerial candidate.

Modi has also arrived in the national capital to attend the BJP's parliamentary board meeting.

According to sources, party stalwart L.K. Advani, who is appearing to be a stumbling block for the saffron outfit in finalising the name of Modi as its prime ministerial candidate, is likely to attend the parliamentary board meeting.

The BJP chief is making sincere efforts to bring all senior leaders on board for officially naming Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate.

Several attempts have 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.

According to certain media reports, Advani has reportedly told Rajnath Singh that fronting Modi as the party's candidate for Prime Minister will be a 'disaster' and will 'destroy the BJP's prospects' in the general elections next year.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is the BJP's ideological mentor, is of the view that any delay in announcing Modi's candidature will not do any good to the party's prospects in the general elections.