Modi's leadership qualities 'unmatched', he will be BJP's PM

Narendra Modi will be the BJP's prime ministerial candidate even if the ruling NDA falls short of a majority in the Lok Sabha elections as his leadership qualities are "unmatched", Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has said.

He, however, asserted that the BJP will improve upon its performance in the 2014 polls and cross the 300-seat mark. The NDA, he claimed, will clinch over 400 seats.

Speaking on the Ram temple issue, Maurya said its construction in Ayodhya was only a matter of time and that the Centre will "remove all the hurdles" coming in the way.

"In 2014, we had won 282 seats. But in 2019, the BJP alone will cross 300 seats. With our NDA partners we will cross the 400 mark under the leadership of Modi," Maurya told PTI in an interview during his recent West Bengal visit.

When asked will the BJP plump for Modi even if he failed to lead the NDA to a straight victory and a second successive stint in power, he replied in the affirmative, insisting "people trust only him".

"That the BJP won't get a majority is a figment of imagination. Those who are trying to pitch themselves as PM candidate like Mamata Banerjee can only dream that Modi won't be getting a majority. The fact is that Modiji will be elected as PM again with a massive majority," he said.

When asked does the BJP have any other candidate for the post, Maurya said, "People only trust Modiji. He is the founder of a new era. His leadership is unmatched."