Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has said she is "happy" for "very good friend" Narendra Modi, who has been made the chairman of the BJP's Election Campaign Committee for the 2014 polls, which many see as a step towards his being named the party's candidate for Prime Minister in next year's general elections.
Ms Jayalalithaa refused to make a political comment saying Mr Modi's promotion yesterday was an internal matter of the BJP, but did add, "At a personal level, Modi is a very good friend of mine, I have high regard for him as an able administrator. My good wishes are always with him whether he wins election in Gujarat or achieves an elevation in his own party."
Mr Modi was among a select set of leaders who had attended Ms Jayalalithaa's swearing-in as chief minister in 2011 after she vanquished the DMK, and the AIADMK chief had returned the favour by being conspicuously present at Mr Modi's oath-taking ceremony in January this year after he won his third straight Gujarat assembly election.
The BJP has been seen as assiduously befriending Ms Jayalalithaa over the last few years. Come 2014 and the general elections, it will be looking for new allies especially if it chooses to project Mr Modi as its leader. Old ally Janata Dal (United) has made it clear that it will find it difficult continue the partnership if that happens.
In Goa, as it wrapped up its two-day conclave, the BJP indicated that it is prepared for that eventuality.
Ms Jayalalithaa refused to make a political comment saying Mr Modi's promotion yesterday was an internal matter of the BJP, but did add, "At a personal level, Modi is a very good friend of mine, I have high regard for him as an able administrator. My good wishes are always with him whether he wins election in Gujarat or achieves an elevation in his own party."
Mr Modi was among a select set of leaders who had attended Ms Jayalalithaa's swearing-in as chief minister in 2011 after she vanquished the DMK, and the AIADMK chief had returned the favour by being conspicuously present at Mr Modi's oath-taking ceremony in January this year after he won his third straight Gujarat assembly election.
The BJP has been seen as assiduously befriending Ms Jayalalithaa over the last few years. Come 2014 and the general elections, it will be looking for new allies especially if it chooses to project Mr Modi as its leader. Old ally Janata Dal (United) has made it clear that it will find it difficult continue the partnership if that happens.
In Goa, as it wrapped up its two-day conclave, the BJP indicated that it is prepared for that eventuality.
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