Modi at first media event diverts questions to Shah

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday exuded confidence that BJP will alone cross 300 mark in Lok Sabha elections and make history by becoming a party with the majority to return to power after a long time.

Modi and Shah made the remarks at a press conference, the first for the Prime Minister in last five years but he did not take any question. Modi was posed one question but he directed it to Shah telling reporters that the party president is supreme.

Shah also later said the Prime Minister need not respond to every question.

"Today is May 17. It was on May 17 in 2014, a day after counting of votes, the era of honesty descended on this country," Modi said.

He said, "after a long time, a party with a majority is returning to power. That is important," Modi said minutes before the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections ended.

On questions about giving ticket to Sadhvi Pragya Thakur who made controversial comments on Mahatma Gandhi, Shah said the party does not regret giving ticket to her as it was to make a stand against Hindu terror tag.

Shah said BJP alone will get more than 300 seats and that the NDA will form the government. He said Modi has addressed 142 public rallies and held four roadshows. It was one of the most extensive campaigns in the country’s history, he added.