After terming Narendra Modi's claims on growth during the NDA regime
as a "fake encounter of facts", Finance Minister P Chidambaram again
targeted BJP's prime ministerial candidate, saying the hype surrounding
him was "largely media created". But the minister, in an exclusive
interview to news agency Reuters, also conceded that the Gujarat Chief
Minister had "gained some traction among the urban youth", while also
managing to unite "the rank and file of BJP". He also added that Mr Modi
was no Vajpayee, BJP's iconic former prime minister, and had a "very,
very checkered track record."