Wrong to deny Modi influence in elections,there is a Modi effect:Omar Abdullah

Jammu, 4 November 2013

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that it would be wrong to deny any Narendra Modi influence in the elections.

“As far as a Modi wave is concern, I think it will be a bit of an exaggeration, also it would be wrong on our part to deny any influence of Modi in the election,” Abdullah told media persons.

“But I won’t use the word wave but, yes there is a Modi effect. And that affect may not so much be on the average voters but it is visible among the cadre of the BJP,” he added.

In October this year, Omar had said it would be a dangerous mistake to ignore Narendra Modi. Speaking exclusively to Hindustan Times, he had said, “I think it would be foolish for us (UPA constituents) to ignore the Modi factor. In fact, it would be a dangerous mistake.”

Elaborating on the ‘Modi factor’, Abdullah had in that interview said, “Six months ago if you had asked me I would have said the Modi factor would have no effect at all, but today it would be foolish on my part to do that. Modi has galvanised the cadre and there is an expectation even in Jammu that they (the BJP) would return to power under Modi. A galvanised cadre can be a make or break factor in an election.”