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India's BJP names Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi as election candidate India's BJP names Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi as election candidate
(4 days later)
The main Indian opposition party has named a controversial Hindu nationalist as its candidate for general elections scheduled for next spring, setting up a contest between two very different visions of India in what are expected to be closely fought polls.The main Indian opposition party has named a controversial Hindu nationalist as its candidate for general elections scheduled for next spring, setting up a contest between two very different visions of India in what are expected to be closely fought polls.
Narendra Modi, 62, was named by officials at the Bharatiya Janata party's (BJP) Delhi headquarters, despite the opposition of senior members of the organisation.Narendra Modi, 62, was named by officials at the Bharatiya Janata party's (BJP) Delhi headquarters, despite the opposition of senior members of the organisation.
"God has given me a lot of strength. The BJP today has given a lowly soldier a big mission," Modi said after Friday night's announcement."God has given me a lot of strength. The BJP today has given a lowly soldier a big mission," Modi said after Friday night's announcement.
"I will work hard to achieve victory for the BJP in 2014 elections," he said, adding: "I seek the blessings of millions of Indians to join our effort to steer the country out of these perilous days.""I will work hard to achieve victory for the BJP in 2014 elections," he said, adding: "I seek the blessings of millions of Indians to join our effort to steer the country out of these perilous days."
Modi came from humble origins to win power in the western state of Gujarat and will now be projected onto the national stage. Critics see him as an extremist who, when chief minister in 2002, allowed or even encouraged mobs to attack Muslims in towns across Gujarat after a lethal fire supposedly started by Muslims on a train full of Hindu pilgrims. He denies the charge.Modi came from humble origins to win power in the western state of Gujarat and will now be projected onto the national stage. Critics see him as an extremist who, when chief minister in 2002, allowed or even encouraged mobs to attack Muslims in towns across Gujarat after a lethal fire supposedly started by Muslims on a train full of Hindu pilgrims. He denies the charge.
Others, including some of the most powerful industrialists in India, say he is an effective, honest administrator who has introduced policies that have boosted development and reduced poverty in his state.Others, including some of the most powerful industrialists in India, say he is an effective, honest administrator who has introduced policies that have boosted development and reduced poverty in his state.
The 2002 violence led to a de facto travel ban imposed on Modi by the UK, the US and some European nations, as well as the boycott by all but junior officials. In 2005, Modi, who consistently tops polls of India's most popular politicians, was refused a US visa as someone held responsible for a serious violation of religious freedom.The 2002 violence led to a de facto travel ban imposed on Modi by the UK, the US and some European nations, as well as the boycott by all but junior officials. In 2005, Modi, who consistently tops polls of India's most popular politicians, was refused a US visa as someone held responsible for a serious violation of religious freedom.
Last year Britain ended a 10-year diplomatic boycott imposed on Modi, prompting scathing criticism from some Indian commentators who accused British politicians of seeking to ingratiate themselves with a potential leader of the country.Last year Britain ended a 10-year diplomatic boycott imposed on Modi, prompting scathing criticism from some Indian commentators who accused British politicians of seeking to ingratiate themselves with a potential leader of the country.
Modi's main opponent in the coming campaign, expected to start in April next year, has not been officially announced but is likely to be Rahul Gandhi, the 43 year old scion of India's first political family, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.Modi's main opponent in the coming campaign, expected to start in April next year, has not been officially announced but is likely to be Rahul Gandhi, the 43 year old scion of India's first political family, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.
Gandhi, with his political pedigree, privileged upbringing and distaste for public speaking, is very different from Modi, who is the son of a tea seller and known as one of the country's best performers at the rallies which are a key part of campaigning. Gandhi, a Cambridge graduate and former management consultant, is a mediocre public speaker who shuns the media.Gandhi, with his political pedigree, privileged upbringing and distaste for public speaking, is very different from Modi, who is the son of a tea seller and known as one of the country's best performers at the rallies which are a key part of campaigning. Gandhi, a Cambridge graduate and former management consultant, is a mediocre public speaker who shuns the media.
The popularity of Gandhi's Congress party has been hit by a series of corruption scandals and a major downturn in the economy.The popularity of Gandhi's Congress party has been hit by a series of corruption scandals and a major downturn in the economy.
However, Congress officials said they welcomed Modi's appointment. "It works for us. It simplifies choices for electors. We all know where we are," one said.However, Congress officials said they welcomed Modi's appointment. "It works for us. It simplifies choices for electors. We all know where we are," one said.
Gandhi sought to diminish Modi's achievements at a rally this week, contrasting the Congress party's welfare programmes for farmers and the poor with Modi's business focus.Gandhi sought to diminish Modi's achievements at a rally this week, contrasting the Congress party's welfare programmes for farmers and the poor with Modi's business focus.
"The opposition says that infrastructure of roads, airports, bridges is needed to take the country forward. These alone can't take the country ahead unless those who work to make these are taken care of too," Gandhi told a crowd in Rajasthan."The opposition says that infrastructure of roads, airports, bridges is needed to take the country forward. These alone can't take the country ahead unless those who work to make these are taken care of too," Gandhi told a crowd in Rajasthan.
The BJP, which led coalitions in power from 1998 to 2004, remains deeply fragmented and the complex nature of Indian politics mean that Modi's elevation to prime minister would be by no means assured even in the event of the party doing well at the polls next year.The BJP, which led coalitions in power from 1998 to 2004, remains deeply fragmented and the complex nature of Indian politics mean that Modi's elevation to prime minister would be by no means assured even in the event of the party doing well at the polls next year.
A coalition government is a certainty and many regional powerbrokers, particularly those with large numbers of Muslim voters, have signalled their unwillingness to join an administration under Modi.A coalition government is a certainty and many regional powerbrokers, particularly those with large numbers of Muslim voters, have signalled their unwillingness to join an administration under Modi.
However, the politician is hugely popular with BJP party workers and the sprawling network of conservative Hindu organisations that many belong to. There were street celebrations outside BJP party offices in Delhi on Friday night.However, the politician is hugely popular with BJP party workers and the sprawling network of conservative Hindu organisations that many belong to. There were street celebrations outside BJP party offices in Delhi on Friday night.
"These are the celebrations of the committed," said Swapan Dasgupta, a political commentator who has advised the BJP. He said there was a "much bigger number of people who need now to be convinced that Modi is a credible alternative to the Congress"."These are the celebrations of the committed," said Swapan Dasgupta, a political commentator who has advised the BJP. He said there was a "much bigger number of people who need now to be convinced that Modi is a credible alternative to the Congress".
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