India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Friday once again called for a bigger role for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in national politics, saying the entire country wants to see him as Prime Minister. "Yesterday only, I told you the entire country wants Modiji as future Prime Minister. It is left to the (BJP) High Command because the people's verdict is important. All of them, they have the opinion that Modi should be projected as Prime Minister," said Yeddyurappa. "So, I am going to request our leaders also to please note the feelings of the people of our country and take necessary action," he added. Yeddyurappa had earlier on Thursday cited a recent India Today poll to endorse Modi's growing stature in national politics. "According to survey reports, throughout the country, people are expecting that Narendra Modi should be projected, that is their liking. Naturally, our national leadership should think on those lines," he told media in Bangalore . Yeddyurappa further said that the forthcoming assembly elections in Gujarat and Modi's good governance were the two main reasons that make him popular among the people. "The Gujarat elections are very near, he has built up the party and he is the tallest leader in Gujarat . We require for the country a man like Modiji," he said. "People are expecting more and if they are giving respect to Modiji, they want him to be projected as a leader," he added. Nationwide, the India Today poll had Rahul Gandhi favoured by only 17 percent of respondents to be the next Prime Minister, topped by 24 percent for Narendra Modi. Yeddyurappa, who arrived here today to attend the party's national executive meeting, further said that he could not attend the meeting on Thursday because of personal reasons. "I have come here to attend national executive meeting. From last 25 years, I am a member of the national executive. Yesterday because of some reasons I could not attend the meeting. Today, I will be attending the national executive meeting," he said. It may be recalled here that Yeddyurappa has so far been upset with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership for sidelining him following charges levelled against him in connection with a mining scam.

Entire country wants to see Narendra Modi as PM: Yeddyurappa