JOIN USBJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters soon after he landed at the airport here that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would get a clear majority and Modi would be the prime minister.
Asked about the future of senior party leaders like patriarch L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and on their role in the Modi government, Singh said he would convene a meeting of the central parliamentary board to decide on the issue. Sources said this was one issue for which the senior leaders met Modi and wanted to apprise him of. “The senior leaders before meeting Modi met leaders in Delhi and it was these parleys held between different leaders that had to be conveyed to Modi,” said senior party leaders.
However, sources also pointed out that the other issue that was discussed was the entry of new allies. While the exit polls predict a comfortable victory, sources said the party was cautious and was keeping its options open especially after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) internal reports stated that the NDA could fall short by around 13 seats.
BJP sources disclosed that the RSS’ internal assessment pegs the BJP tally at 226 and with the NDA, including the Shiv Sena, Akali Dal and Telugu Desam Party, at 259.
This results in a shortage of 13 seats for a majority in the Lok Sabha. “The leaders also wanted to apprise Modi on what were the possibilities of new allies joining the NDA, post results,” said party sources.