At a meeting of BJP workers here, Modi praised Singh who said the Gujarat Chief Minister should deliver his address after him as "a popular leader must speak at the end".
"I am very grateful to party President Rajnath Singh that he not only gave me responsibility of a new task, but he also gave me huge respect in front of workers and people of the country. I am very grateful to him," Modi said in his first comments on his anointment as the BJP's Campaign Committee Chairman.
He did not elaborate further, but appeared to take a dig at Advani and some others who stayed away from the National Executive as they were said to be opposed to his elevation.
At the same time, he said his political career has been "moulded" by senior party leaders, who spent more time with him than their own families.
Sushma Swaraj was supposed to speak, but conspicuous by her absence.
Earlier, Singh said his decision to make Modi as the campaign committee chief was "not for the party but for the country." He said he had no hesitation in taking this significant decision as this was "well deserved".
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