By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Terming Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a dynamic and charismatic leader, Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) supremo Purno Agitok Sangma on Friday said Modi is ‘Prime Minister’ material.
“The Gujarat Chief Minister is a definite Prime Minister material. The picture would become clearer in the next two months on whether Modi is really emerging as a strong contender for the post,” Sangma told reporters.
“There is no doubt that in the Hindi speaking belt everyone sees Modi as the next Prime Minister, but the biggest question is whether there is the same feeling for the Gujarat CM in the non-Hindi speaking belt especially in the South,” Sangma said, adding, “Modi becoming the Prime Minister would depend on whether the BJP comes to power after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls,” the former Lok Sabha Speaker said.
Asked if the 2002 Godhra riots would have any bearings on Modi’s future, the NPP chief said the Gujarat riots occurred two months after Modi assumed office as the Chief Minister for the first time.
“Over the years things have changed. We must not forget that he (Modi) has won maximum of the seats dominated by the Muslim population,” the former Lok Sabha Speaker said. Sangma dismissed the idea of a pre-poll alliance with the BJP-led NDA despite the fact that the opposition had supported him in his bid for Presidency.
Asked whether he would contest the Lok Sabha polls, the NPP supremo gave a vague response, saying, “It is not a matter of individuals. Our main focus is to fight for issues concerning the tribal population of the country.”
He, however, said that he feels really good when people see him as a leader who can take up their issues at the national level.
“Many feel that they should have projected a national tribal leader about 40 years ago. But I am happy that we have finally done it although it might have been a bit late,” Sangma said.