US embassy cables, outed by whistle-blower website Wikileaks, analyse how Narendra Modi could be a strong prime ministerial candidate.
New Delhi: Gujarat CM Narendra Modi is positioning himself for a bigger role on the national stage after making a solid base in the state, according to WikiLeaks.
US embassy cables, many of them uploaded earlier this week, talk about Modi and his rise in stature in the BJP.
The US embassy in New Delhi makes a detailed analysis of the CM in several cables that were sent back home.
"Modi is using his strong base in Gujarat to position himself for the BJP power struggle and to crow about Gujarat's investment-friendly (but certainly not minorityfriendly) record," one of the cables says.
Another assessment was that Modi could be the most popular BJP leader and a PM candidate. "Anecdotal evidence suggests… Modi could be the most popular leader in the BJP and there is increasing momentum to make him the party figurehead and next choice of PM," a cable sent after Modi was denied a US visa (2005) says.
The CM was one of BJP's star campaigners during the 2009 elections, which the party lost.
The cable further claims that BJP's move to make Modi the PM candidate would unite the secular parties.
Talking about the cancellation of the visa application, the cables say the Gujarat CM bears permanent resentment against the US for the "humiliation".
The cables claim "Modi has his eyes on bigger things" and his governing style has a nationwide appeal among conservative Hindus that could help the BJP.
"In a BJP beset by internal struggle, Modi's revival sets him up nicely to influence the kingmaking when the time comes. Having recovered from the crisis invoked by our visa revocation and his tyrannical management style, Modi is positioning himself as a national leader by reminding people that Gujarat has done a fine job of economic governance, notwithstanding the black stain the (2002) riots left," a cable says.
The assessment was made at a time when Modi had consolidated his position as a formidable leader in 2005. "At present, Modi appears stronger than at any time," a cable says.
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