Lotus, BJP's symbol
Lotus, Bharatiya Janata Party's symbolReuters

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has been asked to come to Delhi on 17 May to discuss his formal election as the party's head and leader of National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The Lok Sabha election results are set to be announced on 16 May and the party is expecting a majority to form the next coalition government at the Centre.

The party will decide the date for its Parliamentary Board meeting, where Modi is likely to be elected as the party head and leader of NDA.

"I have told Narendrabhai to come to Delhi on 17th. I will convene the Parliamentary Board meeting on that date to decide the earliest date to hold BJP parliamentary party meet to formally elect Narendrabhai as our leader," BJP president Rajnath Singh said in Gandhinagar on 14 May.

Singh met Modi at the latter's residence in Gujarat's capital for three hours, where the party's core group leaders were also said to be present. BJP's core group includes Modi, Singh and Nitin Gadkari, a former party president.

For BJP, its parliamentary board is the highest decision making panel. The party is also likely to take a decision regarding the role of senior leaders- LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and plan on Modi's successor for the post of Gujarat's Chief Minister.

Singh denied any rift between the party's leaders and added that BJP will appeal to its alliance parties for their support. Modi should be formally elected as NDA's leader, the BJP president said.

Party sources in Gandhinagar said that Modi will remain in Gujarat till Friday; the day when results will be announced. Soon after the poll results are out, Modi will address a public meeting.

Modi will be in Varanasi on 17 May to thank the voters there and will reach Delhi by noon on the same day. Singh stated that there would not be any change in the party's PM candidate and expressed confidence that Modi will surely become the next prime minister of India.

He also did not rule out seeking the support of AIADMK and BJD in case NDA falls short of the required 272 majority seats to form the next government.