BJP has announced that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be the party's prime ministerial candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. The decision was taken at the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi on Friday evening. Senior party leader L.K. Advani, however, stayed away from the Board meeting. In a letter to party President Rajnath Singh on Friday afternoon, he said he had conveyed his anguish and disappointment over the style of Rajnath's functioning to him.

Announcing the decision of the Parliamentary Board, Rajnath Singh said it was taken in view of the mood of the people and sentiment of party cadres. He said leaders of NDA allies have supported Modi's candidature.

On this occasion, Mr. Modi said, he will do his best to make the party victorious in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Senior Congress leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal said the party has nothing to say on the move and described the announcement as BJP's internal matter.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari in a tweet alleged that decisions within the BJP were being influenced by corporate.

DMK President M Karunanidhi indicated that he might not support Modi as his party would not go back on its ideology of opposing communalism. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee said it was an internal matter of BJP.

Samajwadi Party, which is an outside ally of the UPA, said people would never accept Modi, his ideology and policies. Veteran CPI leader A B Bardhan said it would only pave the way for a revolt within the BJP.

NDA allies Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiv Sena have hailed the decision saying it reflected the mood of the people.