Only Modi will be PM of NDA govt: Rajnath

On Board Spl Flight: Only Narendra Modi would be the prime minister of an NDA government irrespective of its tally in the new Lok Sabha, BJP president Rajnath Singh made it clear on Sunday. "Modi will be the Prime Minister of NDA government under any circumstances," he said in an interview to PTI on board his chartered campaign aircraft.

The BJP leader's categorical assertion came in response to a question about the possibility of NDA falling short of a majority and any new ally insisting on a different leader, other than Modi. "The country cannot be ruled only by the laws but by a leader who has moral authority. Only a person who has been projected as the PM candidate or CM candidate will have that moral authority," he said. Singh dismissed as "unnecessary controversy" Modi's refusal to wear a 'skull cap' (worn by Muslims). "This is an attempt to make an issue of a non-issue in a planned manner by our political opponents. I wear dhoti-kurta, he (Modi) wears kurta-pyjama, you wear shirt-pant. Is this an issue? They (opponents) want to communalise the country," he said. About addressing the concerns of Muslims, Singh said, "We are gradually removing the apprehensions... Their fear will be removed through dialogue." Asked whether Modi is going to hold dialogue with Muslim leaders, the BJP chief merely said, "Talks keep happening. Modiji also keeps talking to them. You must have seen Muslims now support Modi."