NEW DELHI (TIP): There is “no question mark” on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi‘s popularity and the party will “soon” decide its prime ministerial candidate, BJP president Rajnath Singh has said. “The decision on the prime ministerial candidate will be taken at the right time and it may be soon,” Rajnath Singh told IANS in an exclusive interview here.

Asked if Modi could be the party’s choice for the prime minister’s post ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha battle, he refused to make a comment but said Modi’s popularity cannot be denied. “There is no question mark on the popularity of Modi.” What about the reservations against Modi expressed by ally Janata Dal- United? “We are old allies, the alliance is strong. If there is a difference, we will sit and talk and sort it out.”

In 2009, the BJP projected L.K. Advani as its prime ministerial candidate, but the Congress won the election. Amid speculation on who the BJP would project as its prime ministerial candidate, Rajnath Singh,MP from Ghaziabad, told his party colleagues not to comment on the subject after taking charge in January. The 61-year-old said the BJP was hopeful of forging new alliances.