Muslim leaders have called upon the community to do "tactical voting" - to ensure their votes go to the strongest anti-BJP candidate in each constituency so as to prevent a division of Muslim votes.
Former Bangalore mayor Mumtaz Begum told IANS that should Modi become prime minister, "he should rise above religion and reach out to all sections, especially minorities, to make them feel secure".
Shahed Minhas, a businessman also from Bangalore, said Muslims would have accepted even Modi if only "he accepts moral responsibility for all that happened under his leadership in 2002".
He added: "We have no choice but to come to terms with Modi... If the majority of people want him to be prime minister, does our anti-BJP vote count?"
Lucknow's Shias, who have always voted for Vajpayee, are rooting for Modi.
