Parkash Singh Badal bats for PM Modi, says Rahul like 'ant' in front him

Varanasi, Apr 26 Shiromani Akali Dal supporter and former chief minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal was among a galaxy of NDA leaders who turned up at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nomination filing in Varanasi on Friday.

The Prime Minister, who shook hands and welcomed all NDA leaders, went a step ahead and touched Badal’s feet as a mark of respect.

"Shiromani Akali Dal is a very old party of India. Furthermore, our relation with BJP is close. And this relation isn't political, it's a pure relation. We were the first party to support BJP and we are standing with BJP till now," said the senior politician.

"Today Narendra Modi filled his nomination, so I came here in his support,” he adds.

Speaking on Modi as the next PM, he says, "People of India need to think will's identity the next Prime Minister of India? Who can rival Modi.. this (Rahul) Gandhi, it like comparing an elephant to an ant.”

Talking on the stupendous unions in different states, "That Mahagathbandan is nothing, this sort of collusion dependably break."

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has a collusion with the BJP in Punjab and Haryana.

As PM Modi filed his nomination from Varanasi on Friday, top National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners and North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) leaders went with him in a show of strength.

Apart from Badal, BJP President Amit Shah, Janata Dal (United) chief and Bihar Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar, Shiromani Akali Dal supporter Parkash Singh Badal, Shiv Sena boss Uddhav Thackeray, Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio, Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan, Tamil Nadu Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, Apna Dal (Sonelal) boss Anupriya Patel, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, BJP pioneer Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh sat joined the PM during nomination filing.