Shashi Tharoor lauds Prime Minister Modi over "re-branding" himself

Bangalore, June 4: Former Union minister

on Wednesday praised India's Prime Minister

, who came to power after his party secured a massive mandate in the Lok Sabha election held recently, saying the latter, as contrary to people's apprehension, "overcame this negative perception, re-branding himself as an apostle of development and pointing to his successful record in Gujarat..."

In an article in Huffington Post titled 'How Narendra Modi May Have Evolved into 'Modi 2.0'' [Read full article here], Tharoor, who had also criticised Modi before the elections like many others in his party, said Modi's "brilliantly-organised, lavishly-funded election campaign saw "Hindutva", the ideology of Hindu chauvinism with which he and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have long been identified, relegated to the back burner."

Tharoor was overwhelmed by Modi's congratulatory message after his victory

Tharoor also praised the fact that Modi and his party did not celebrate the victory as many thought they would have and the prime minister was concliatory and inclusive in whatever he said and did. Tharoor said he himself was also a beneficiary of the "unexpected generosity" as Modi congratulated him on his victory from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. Modi wanted him to join hands with to take India forward, Tharoor said.

The Congress leader also lauded Modi for announcing soon after his victory that he would be the prime minister of all Indians, including those who did not vote for him.

Oneindia News