The rise and rise of Narendra Modi

Claims that Modi's then fledgling administration did little to stop the subsequent violence in which more than 2000 died, and may even have encouraged reprisals against the state's Muslims, were rejected by a subsequent inquiry, but India is a country in which rumours, especially those motivated by politics and religion, die hard.

While Modi does nothing to discourage his 'hero of the Hindus' image, his pro-development policies have brought prosperity to all sectors of his state, with one of his biggest coups being the luring of Tata Motors away from its original decision to establish a factory for the low-cost Nano car in West Bengal. The move, which admittedly was achieved only with significant inducements offered to Tata, has brought more than 2000 additional jobs to the area and further burnished Gujarat's reputation as an efficiently administered jurisdiction, welcoming to big business.

Political analyst Arvind Bosmia, who has followed Modi from the days when he was an unknown party bureaucrat, believes the Chief Minister's political base in Gujarat can be expanded on to the national stage and that under him the BJP could win an absolute majority in 2014.

He points out that potential rivals currently in the Lok Sabha could not even get elected in their home states and had to be found safe seats elsewhere.

"By trying to stop Modi, the BJP will be botching up its second chance to rule the country," Bosmia writes. "All the rivals for the job are not as strong as he is now."