Patna, March 23 -- Although it is now almost certain that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) - the group of parties led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - will attain a majority in the Lok Sabha in the forthcoming general elections, the question will nevertheless arise whether Narendra Modi will be the Prime Minister since the BJP itself is expected to fall short of a majority of its own.
In that case, it will be a case of so near, yet so far for the BJP since Modi, who was described as "God's gift to the nation" by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, has been a pivotal figure in the BJP's rise since 2013-14.
It is his leadership which is expected by the BJP to usher in a Congress-mukt (free) India and enable the saffron party to rule e...