Modi and BJP are not separate: Advani's son

Giving credit to Modi, he says BJP will do much better than its previous record of 182 seats which the party won in 1998 and 1999

Notwithstanding his father L K Advani's reservations on Narendra Modi being projected as BJP's prime ministerial candidate, son Jayant feels the Gujarat chief minister is the most popular leader in the country "who inspires confidence among people".

Jayant, who is the campaign in-charge in his father's constituency of Gandhinagar, insists that Modi and BJP "are not separate".

"We should not segregate BJP and Modi. Both are same. Modi is the face of election and people are voting for a change at the Centre. We should look at Modi and BJP in the same context. They should not be looked at separately," he told PTI.

Giving credit to Modi's leadership, he says the BJP will do much better than its previous record of 182 seats which the party won in 1998 and 1999.

"Modi is the only one in the country today who inspires confidence among people. He is undoubtedly the most popular leader in the country and this time BJP will gain much more than 182 seats," Jayant claims.

Advani is seeking a sixth term from Gandhinagar which goes to polls tomorrow. In 2009, the BJP veteran won by a margin of over 120,000 votes. This time he is pitted against Congress candidate Kirit Patel.

On many occasions, Advani has been appearing to suggest that no one should overshadow the party.

Addressing a rally here earlier this month, the BJP veteran had said, "These days, when people are asked which party would form government, some would say BJP's government will run this country while some other would say this time it will be Modi's government. Everybody has hoped that a Lotus government would be formed this time."

However, Advani had also said that the outcome of no other election has been influenced so much by the announcement of a prime ministerial candidate as it has been this time by declaration of Modi's name.