Mumbai: Noting that Narendra Modi's statement that he did not dream of becoming the prime minister may have satisfied the kid who asked it, Shiv Sena on Saturday wondered how was the BJP leader going to explain this to those in his party who are clamouring for announcement of his candidature for the top post.
There appears to be different streams within the BJP on announcing Modi as prime ministerial nominee, which is why no announcement has been made so far, an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.
"Modi has announced that he has no desire to become the PM... But how will he explain this to his party leaders who are putting pressure to make him the PM candidate," it said.
BJP leader Rajanath Singh said Modi is the party campaign committee chief and the party is sure to win 270 seats. But now, after the kid's question, Modi has decided not to leave Gujarat till 2017, the newspaper edited by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, said.
"With this new stance of Modi, those who want him declared PM nominee must have been disheartened."
"NCP chief Sharad Pawar has understood it well that a person whose name is projected never becomes the prime minister," it said.
Meanwhile, reacting to the editorial, state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis said the party respects freedom of the press "but such remarks could have been avoided."
