Keshubhai Patel sees future Prime Minister in Narendra Modi

Former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel surprised all Thursday when he said his arch rival and sucessor Narendra Modi has “all the qualities to become a prime minister”. “I think Narendra Modi has all the qualities required by any leader to become the prime minister of the country,” Keshubhai told reporters here at Saraswati school where he was present to cast his vote.

Keshubhai, however, added there was no dearth of leaders in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) eligible for the prime minister’s post. He also said reporters to talk about 2009 elections and not 2014 at this time. He wished Advani to become India’s Prime Minister and form NDA government after the elections.

Patel, who was replaced with Modi in October 2001 had later supported a rebellion by a section of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators and functionaries against Modi. He had not cast his vote in Gujarat assembly elections in 2007. As the party’s central leadership backed Modi, Keshubhai and his supporters have been left sulking. Keshubhai’s followers like former central ministers Vallabh Kathiria and Kashiram Rana were denied the party tickets to contest Lok Sabha polls.