Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi created a stir for a brief while in Bangalore with his remarks at the swearing-in ceremony of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Y S Yediyurappa government on Monday.
"Karnataka will follow the Gujarat model," Modi said on the sidelines of the ceremony, leading the media to interpret that he was referring to the state government following Hindutava agenda as was the case in Gujarat.
However, BJP President Rajnath Singh was quick to clarify that Modi was only referring to Gujarat's model of development.
"He only meant that the Gujarat model of development will be followed. It is of no doubt that Gujarat today is an example for other states to follow," Singh said.
Talking to reporters, Modi also said that the formation of BJP government in Karanataka would give a boost to the party organisation in the whole country.
"It would be an encouragement to everyone and its results would be evident in coming state elections," Modi said.
The Gujarat assembly polls are scheduled to be held in December.
Incidentally, Yeddyurappa, who was sworn in as chief minister for the remaining 19-month tenure of the present assembly, did not comment on Modi's statement.
In 2001, Modi was sworn in as the chief minister of Gujarat with only 12 months remaining for the assembly polls and the state unit of the BJP struggling hard with factionalism.
After communal riots in March-April 2002, Modi stormed back to power with a sweeping majority.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh, chief ministers of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh respectively, were also present at the ceremony. However, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje was conspicuous by her absence.
Known Vasundhara detractor and senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh, in news after being booked in connection to the opium-party case, also kept himself away from the ceremony.