SAD to support anybody BJP chooses as PM candidate

New Delhi: Amid growing chorus in BJP for projecting Narendra Modi as the party's Prime Ministerial candidate, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) today said it will offer "unconditional" support to anyone BJP chooses.

"We do not want to put forward our views. We are a small party. So, being a small party, we are very clear. Whoever BJP and NDA decides, we will support them unconditionally," SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal told reporters here when asked about Modi's projection as Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014 general elections.

Voices within BJP pitching for Modi as the Prime Minister grew louder yesterday with two MPs Ram Jethmalani and C P Thakur backing him but discomfort among NDA allies was visible with Shiv Sena batting for Sushma Swaraj for the top post.

Another NDA constituent JD(U) has strong reservations against Modi's projections as PM candidate.

This came a day after Yashwant Sinha said the Gujarat Chief Minister should be declared the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, who was followed by eminent lawyer and party Rajya Sabha MP Ram Jethmalani saying that Modi was the "best" candidate and that he is "impeccably secular".

BJP President Rajnath Singh has, however, steered cleared of any controversy and refused to make a comment on Modi's candidature and said such decisions are taken by the party's Parliamentary Board.