Modi in limelight at BJP parliamentary board meet

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, attending his first BJP parliamentary board meeting after his re-induction, was in the limelight when the panel met here Tuesday to draw the party's strategy for the 2014 general elections.

Among his suggestions were use of social media to reach out to the youths, and informing the people about the failures of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) central government.

"Modi suggested how social media can be used as a tool to reach out to the young people," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ananth Kumar told reporters after the meeting.

"He said that the failures of the UPA government should be discussed in details in the national executive, and then should be brought to the attention of people of India," he added.

Ananth Kumar said the issue of the prime ministerial candidate was not discussed.

"We are ready for the elections, will decide on our PM candidate at the right time," he said.

Ananth Kumar said the BJP leaders also discussed the agenda for the forthcoming meetings of the party's national council and national executive, which are to be held next month.

Before the parliamentary board meeting, Modi met party leader L. K. Advani and former party president Nitin Gadkari.

"Had a wonderful meeting with Advaniji on arrival at Delhi," Modi tweeted earlier in the day.

Speculation has been rife over Modi being made the BJP's prime ministerial candidate. However, there have been differences in the party over the issue. Some allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also have opposed Modi's projection as the party's prime ministerial candidate.

Modi's re-induction in the BJP parliamentary board was taken as an indication of his claim for the top post. His close aide in Gujarat Amit Shah has also been made in-charge of the party's affairs in Uttar Pradesh for the general elections.

BJP president Rajnath Singh, however, said that Modi did not recommend Shah's appointment.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of the BJP's intensified demand of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation, and speculation over the Lok Sabha polls ahead of the term.