Modi thanks Atal for bestowing ''right successor'' to BJP

New Delhi, Jan 28 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for passing on the leadership baton to Mr L K Advani and called him the right successor to lead the party in the next Lok Sabha election.

Making a special mention about the roles played by Mr Vajpayee and Mr Advani for the last five decades, Mr Modi said: ''Mr Vajpayee will be remembered for his good governance as well as bestowing the right successor to the party. For Gujarat BJP leaders, it was a very good news because Mr Advani is an MP from Gujarat,'' Mr Modi said at the National Council meeting at Ramlila Grounds.

He said: ''People of the country know that Mr Advani is not a leader who has decended because of his family lineage but because he is a tall leader in his own merit. No other party can boast of having a leader who has travelled the lenght and breadth of the country and knows each of the districts like the back of his palm,'' Mr Modi said.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi said Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad's RJD would be ''bowled out'' of the state in the coming polls. He said the state had won all the byelections after the Janata Dal (United) and BJP coalition came to power.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also assured Mr Advani the state, which had 21 of the 25 MPs, would be able to send maximum number of BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha.

Similar confidence was exuded by Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Chief Ministers.

UNI MCN HS VC2316