The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday hit back at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for criticising its projection of L K Advani as the party's prime ministerial candidate, saying the remarks reflected his frustrated and disappointed state of mind.
The saffron party also dubbed the Prime Minister as being "diffident and unable to run the government" as his Left allies are threatening to pull the rug beneath him.
"He is frustrated and disappointed and is making these comments considering his own state of mind," said BJP vice president M Venkaiah Naidu.
At a press conference in Vadodara, Singh had taken a dig at Advani's anointment as BJP's next prime ministerial candidate, saying it was done because the party feared danger from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
"We did not expect such comments from the Prime Minister. He is not in a position to give direction or commands and has become nervous ever since Advani's name was announced because there is no leader in Congress who can equal Advani in stature," Naidu said.
No Prime Minister would have made such remarks, Naidu said adding that Singh's disturbed mind prompted the comments. On the Gujarat Chief Minister, Naidu said, "Everyone has decided on Modi's leadership in Gujarat. Gujarat is his area."
He said there was no proposal about Modi being projected as a future Prime Minister. "BJP has decided that he should lead the party in Gujarat. He also has expressed his interest in leading the party there. His target is the progress of five crore Gujaratis," Naidu said.
