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While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership is struggling to make up its mind on whether to project Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party, the senior BJP leader is making all effort to not just build his image in India but also internationally.
Almost four months after meeting the entire delegation of European Union (EU) members in the national capital, Modi met 20 ambassadors of Latin American and Caribbean (LSA) to further business ties with Gujarat and also project himself internationally as the “most popular leader” of BJP. The delegation of LCA ambassadors was led by the Mexican ambassador who was leading the members.
Before the formal meeting with the European Union, members of the EU had boycotted Modi for a decade after the 2002 post-Godhra riots in the state. The breakthrough for Modi came in October 2012 when the British High Commissioner met him to finally end the boycott. UK is trying to develop co-operation with the state government in the fields of education, science and innovation, energy, trade and investment.
In January this year, Modi had lunch with the ambassadors of the European Union at the residence of German envoy to India Michael Steiner.
The growing influence of Modi within BJP and his third consecutive win in the assembly elections has ensured that the Gujarat chief minister will play an important role in the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign. Senior leaders of the BJP are contemplating of making Modi lead the election campaign committee.
To further improve his image globally, Gujarat chief minister had received as a state guest when he went to China and Japan. The US too has shown interest in developing diplomatic contacts with Modi at the highest level although middle level officials of embassy have maintained their contact with the state government. US had earlier rejected visa to Modi because of the riots.
