New Delhi: US ambassador to India Nancy Powell today met the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at his residence in Gandhinagar.
This is first such meeting after the US denied the latter a diplomatic visa in 2005.
The development marks a major shift in US stand towards Modi as it has so far refused to have any contact with him because of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Before Powell's formal request, the US Embassy officials recently held a meeting with some senior officials of Gujarat government, during which the 2002 riots issue is believed to have been discussed among other subjects.
That interaction apparently set the stage for the meeting between Powell and 63-year-old Modi.
But Washington has made it clear that it is not taking any position on the Lok Sabha elections.
