'Divisive' Narendra Modi unfit to be Prime Minister: Digvijay Singh

Describing Narendra Modi as the person responsible for internal disputes within the BJP and the split between the NDA and the JDU, Congress leader Digvijay Singh said the former is unfit to be Prime Minister.

“The decision has been taken under pressure from the Sangh, and it makes it clear that BJP is nothing and it is only the Sangh. Narendra Modi is a person, whoever supports him he betrays that person,” he told media here today.

He further asked: “ Can this person who is responsible for the split of 17-year-old alliance between NDA and JDU make this country one? He is the one because of whom there is internal dispute in BJP. Is he fit to be the Prime Minister? What will he serve this country?”

BJP on Friday announced Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections.

The announcement came after a meeting of the party's parliamentary board here this evening, which unanimously decided to project Modi as the prime ministerial candidate.

"We have projected Narendra Modi as our PM candidate," BJP President Rajnath Singh told media here after the parliamentary board meeting.

Modi thanked his party's central leadership for giving him such an important responsibility, and expressed confidence that the BJP would emerge victorious in the next general elections.

"The BJP has always given me the opportunity to work for progress and development of the party and the nation in various capacities. Today, the BJP's central leadership has given me a very big responsibility," said Modi.

"With the blessings of the national leadership and love of the party workers, I am sure we will win. I whole-heartedly thank the party workers and national leadership," he added.

Modi assured his party workers and supporters that he would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the BJP emerges victorious in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani was not present in the parliamentary board meeting.

Several attempts had earlier been made by senior leaders to convince Advani, who had resigned from all party posts when Modi was appointed the election campaign committee chief in Goa earlier this year.

The BJP President even met the stalwart at the latter's residence here on Wednesday, but failed to convince him.