BJP-NDA poll win is 'done deal', says UK's Lord Meghnad Desai

London, Apr 7: Predicting a victory for the

-led alliance in the ongoing general election, leading

economist Lord Meghnad Desai on Monday said

as prime minister will push for economic growth in India.

"The BJP-NDA will form the new government, that is a done deal and not worth even taking a bet on. And, it will be a very strong coalition," Lord Desai said during a session on 'Economic and Political Outlook' at the Global Wealth Management Conclave 2014.

"Narendra Modi will be the first state chief minister to become Prime Minister, who will push the growth agenda quite a lot. Infrastructure will be a big, big item on the agenda of the new government and it will also prove investor friendly," he said while addressing an audience of wealth experts at the event jointly organised by UK-based news website India Inc and international accountancy and consultancy firm BDO.

The senior academic and commentator also forecast a take-off in India's growth trajectory under a Modi-led government. "Modi will prove a decisive PM and under him the growth rate will hit 6.5 per cent by the end of 2015 and 8.5 per cent by the government's mid-term," he predicted.

His views were largely echoed by fellow parliamentarian and NRI entrepreneur Cobra Beer chief Lord Karan Bilimoria.

"Narendra Modi has a reputation of getting things done. It was the BJP that set up the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to engage with the 30-million strong Indian diaspora around the world and an India under the new government will be outward looking and investment friendly," Lord Bilimoria said.

PTI