Modi speech at Kolkata: to align with Mamata??

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi moved his road-show to Kolkata, where he addressed industrialists and  aligned himself with  Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, empathizing with her task to "fill the potholes created by the left in over 30 years of rule" and attacking the union government for discriminating against Bengal.  

His recent speeches, most of them televised, are being interpreted as a promotional tour to convince his party to let him run for Prime Minister, but in Kolkata, Mr. Modi said, "A politician may have the desire to be Prime Minister, but I am not a politician." His diplomacy was notable. He alerted the media that he would make no comparison of his government to Ms. Banerjee's.  

Mr. Modi's investment-friendly policies have made him a favourite with India Inc.  Ms. Banerjee is seen as anti-industry, owing largely to  her campaign against Tata Motors, which was forced to shut down its Nano factory in Singur in Begnal and relocate to Gujarat.

The BJP leader's sharpest jabs were reserved for the centre, which he rendered deftly and in quick succession, describing it as a "snowball melting in front of our eyes."  He also castigated the Congress-led UPA for undermining federalism and for discriminating against states where it is not in power, both issues which Ms. Banerjee has vented about repeatedly.

Mr. Modi has been working hard on nationalizing his brand since his re-election in December.  In a series of addresses to high-profile gatherings, he has been selling his model of development in Gujarat as the solution to India's economic slowdown.

The aggressive campaign is aimed at pitching him as the BJP's best candidate for prime minister.  The party has promoted him recently to posts that will give him a large say in plans for the national elections, but Mr. Modi has not yet been declared the BJP's presumptive candidate, despite the clamour of party workers.

Highlights of Mr. Modi's answers from the Q&A round:

·        You cannot put one state's model into another state. It needs modification, not Modi-fication.

·        In any foreign policy, we have to put our interests  first. Today, by and large, the relations with the world is based on trade and commerce. It is the age of global economy - and that is at the centre of all borders.

·        In any group, we are participants and never leaders - not even in SAARC. We can't even lead the smaller nations in our neighbourhood.

·        How do we make the youth of our country productive? - through skill development.

·        For example, the world needs teachers, nurses. We can develop the human resources and export teachers and nurses. We can add a new paradigm to economic development.

·        I told the PM the age of solar energy is coming. You must take initiative and start a Sun movement with other countries. But there was no proactive role.

·        (On being asked for suggestions for developing tourism in Bengal): This time I am in Bengal as a student and my priority is to learn. I know Bengalis are best tourists - and they are guests, who never trouble their hosts. I want Bengalis to come to Gujarat in greater numbers to Gujarat; See the lions of Gir and the Rann of Kutch on a moonlit night.

·        Politician may have a last wish but I don't. I am an apolitical person.