Is Narendra Modi ready for a ‘bigger role’?

The buzz has started and this time it is louder than ever before. Gujarat’s saffron poster boy Narendra Modi is now ready for the national challenge. If the unmistakable hype is to be believed, the national BJP and its parent body the RSS is firming up long-pending plans of a big role for him.

A source in the BJP confided that RSS had decided quite some time back that Modi is the leader of the future. “It is just a matter of finding an opportune time before it is announced, so that the revolt is within control,” he confided, adding that such things are obviously never stated but perceived.

Whether the hype is real or fabricated will be revealed soon. But for now, there does not seem to be any doubt that the Supreme Court verdict, whatever its interpretation might be, has come as a big relief for Modi, not necessarily for the BJP. “The euphoria is over the fact that the Damocles’ Sword is gone till the next elections in 2012 at least,” one source in the BJP said.  Those observing Modi closely have seen a distinct strain on his face in recent months, what with his close aide Amit Shah being apprehended for a fake encounter case and several IPS officers lashing out against him and his establishment.    

His public appearances in recent times have been restricted to those absolutely necessary and even in those, his body language has been cautious to say the least. His tweets, even that on a sizzling issue like Anna Hazare's fast, came after several days and were very guarded.