Centre heading in right direction under Modi, says Advani

Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani, who recently took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the party's debacle in the Bihar assembly elections, on Sunday said the Centre was heading in the right direction and would do well in the future.

"A system takes time to come on its own. As the direction of the government is correct, the results would sure be good," the 88-year-old Advani told reporters after casting his vote in the local body polls in Khanpur area.

The BJP veteran was replying to a question if Modi had apparently failed on his promise of "acchhe din" (good days) for the country during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign as reflected in the recent spurt in prices of essential commodities.

Given his party's performance in the Bihar elections, Advani was asked about the results he expected in the two-tiered local body polls in Gujarat, the first phase of which took place in six municipal corporations on Sunday.

"The party rank and file have become alert and rolled up their sleeves to ensure nothing goes wrong," he replied.

Advani, the Lok Sabha member from Gandhinagar constituency, said the BJP had performed its best under Modi during the assembly and general elections in many places.

"I will be pleased to see similar results in the local polls as well," he added.

The veteran leader also praised Chief Minister Anandiben Patel for earmarking 50 percent of the seats for women in the local body elections.

"I am happy to get an opportunity to vote amid all these changes," he said.