BJP mulls Modi's projection as PM candidate soon

The BJP could name Narendra Modi as itss prime ministerial candidate before the assembly polls to four states later this year but no final decision has been taken, party sources said Friday.

The sources said there have been suggestions in the party that Modi should be projected as the prime ministerial candidate before the assembly polls and the leadership was deliberating on the issue.

They said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was weighing options about formally projecting Modi as prime ministerial candidate and if such a decision should be taken before or after the assembly polls.

"No decision has been taken but the issue has been considered in party circles," a BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.

Modi, the Gujarat chief minister, has been appointed chief of campaign committee for the 2014 assembly polls by the BJP.

Among the factors the party is weighing is the likely impact of results of assembly polls on Modi's position.

"If Modi is declared PM candidate and if results of assembly polls are not favourable or we win two of the four states, it can impact his image," the party leader said.

He said the advantage of announcing a prime ministerial candidate in advance is that it will allow the party time to build campaign around him.

The BJP is expecting to perform well in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan but has some worries in Delhi where it has not projected a chief ministerial candidate.