Modi anointed BJP PM candidate, Advani disappointed

NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi, a staunch proponent of Hinduvta, was on Friday anointed BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, ending months of suspense over his elevation amid stiff opposition by party patriarch L K Advani.

The announcement was made by BJP chief Rajnath Singh after a meeting of the party's parliamentary board which was skipped by Advani who expressed "anguish" over the way the party was functioning.

Except Advani, the meeting of the 12-member board was attended by other leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Murli Manohar Joshi, Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari.

The decision on Modi came on a day of fast-paced developments and back-to-back meetings and last minute efforts to bring around Advani,Joshi and Swaraj.

Will lead BJP to victory in 2014: Modi

Moments after he was named the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi Friday pledged to lead the party to victory in the Lok Sabha elections.

"I promise that in the 2014 election, the BJP will emerge victorious," a confident sounding Modi told the media at the party headquarters, flanked by a galaxy of senior colleagues minus the veteran LK Advani.

"And for this, the party will work hard and we will leave no stone unturned," Modi said in a brief speech after being anointed the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee.

He said the country was passing through a crisis and the party.

"I am sure that people from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will vote for the lotus symbol," Modi said of the BJP's election symbol.

Advani disappointed

Advani has written a letter to BJP chief on the issue of Modi's anointment. He has expressed his disappointment over Rajnath's style of working.