Mumbai: Elated with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s impressive victory in the crucial
Gujarat Assembly polls, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on December 15 advocated the
need for incumbent Chief Minister Narendra Modi to adhere to Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee's suggestions and strictly follow "rajdharma".
"By successfully conducting Gujarat elections, Modi had followed 'rajyadharma' but
his responsibility has increased manifold and he will have to strictly
follow 'rajdharma'," Thackeray said reacting to Gujarat poll verdict.
The Sena chief claimed that he had advised the BJP leadership not to effect a change
of guard in the state in the wake of Godhra carnage and subsequent communal
conflagration.
"I had repeatedly conveyed my message to Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Lal
Krishna Advani not to dislodge Modi through various Central BJP ministers whom I had
met during that period," Thackeray said.
"I had also told the BJP leadership that it was only Modi who could win the state
back for that party," he added.
However, the Sena chief said, "I do not claim that only due to my advise central BJP
leadership reposed faith in Modi but good sense prevailed on them and they continued
with him."
The Sena chief said his party may have differences with BJP but it wanted the
latter's victory in the Gujarat polls.
"Had Congress come to power in that state, entire Gujarat would have been turned
into Godhra," the Sena supreme commented.
PTI
