The outcome of the general elections is some weeks away, yet Narendra Modi on Saturday evening, chose to ‘announce’ himself as the future prime minister of the country while addressing a public rally in Chandigarh.

Citing solutions for the ills that ail Le Corbusier-designed Chandigarh as someone who has stayed and worked there, Modi said, “It seems the future prime minister knows you better than the local representatives here.” Yet again, midway through his speech, Modi’s narrative from the dais was about his future credentials as the next PM. He said, “People of the country will make me the prime minister, but the victory will be incomplete without the saffron party lotus blooming in Chandigarh.”

This is the first time Modi has publicly preferred posturing around what he believes could be his next role as a leader. He had so far refrained from manifesting such overconfidence. “You have seen rulers for 60 years, now give a servant an opportunity for 60 months,” he said.

The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate claimed it was Mahatma Gandhi’s desire to disband the Congress party after Independence but the party didn’t listen to him. “It’s our duty to fulfill his dream,” he said. He said the Congress-led central government had become a burden and threat to the country.

“The country is not secure with such a government which cannot protect its soldiers who are being beheaded (by Pakistan),” he said.

Modi took on the Congress for its choice of its candidate from Chandigarh. He said the Congress has fielded tainted candidates like Pawan Kumar Bansal.

“Why was Bansal removed if he had to be given a poll ticket,” Modi asked. Slamming the UPA, Modi said bad governance is like diabetes and kills from inside.