Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi a no-contest in Karnataka............

While Rahul Gandhi who has a packed campaign schedule in Karnataka, Modi is showing no signs of campaigning aggressively.

BANGALORE: The hoopla around Narendra Modi versus Rahul Gandhi contest, abbreviated to a crisp 'NaMo-RaGa face-off' weeks before the Karnataka elections, is fizzling out. For, unlikeCongress general secretary Rahul Gandhi who has a packed campaign schedule in the state, the BJP's top draw Modi is showing no signs of campaigning aggressively.

Modi has just cemented a place for himself in the BJP's national team and the Karnataka elections will be his first test on a stage outside Gujarat. However, there is also pronounced anti-incumbency working against the saffron party, which has made Modi cautious about pitching himself to the forefront. While this has dispirited the state BJP somewhat, real politik has scored for now: Modi doesn't want to mess up his PM chances and knows he can't help the party in Karnataka.

"Modi has adopted a cautious approach since the battle is being projected as Modi vs Rahul in Karnataka. He feels a negative result will affect his prospects of becoming the PM," said a senior BJP functionary. As a matter fact, Modi had decided not to campaign in Karnataka at all until he was prevailed upon to address a few rallies lest he be described as a "coward".

Political analyst Sandeep Shastri said, "Undoubtedly, Modi will not actively participate in the campaign since he's aware that he could end up on the losing side." For the same reason, he said, Modi did not participate in the Uttar Pradesh campaign in 2012 as well. He knew BJP stood no chance there. But, Shastri said, Karnataka will see a lot of Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, in a bid to appear hard against terror after Wednesday's blast in Bangalore, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said his party would come up with a strong anti-terrorism law if elected in 2014. "The party's first effort would be to bring in a strong anti-terrorism law like Pota (Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002)," Naqvi told reporters.

Ironically, BJP chief ministers expressed opposition to UPA's proposed anti-terrorism body NCTC (National Centre for Counter Terrorism) because it "interferes" with state's authority.

Naqvi said the BJP will launch its campaign in the state for the May 5 elections on April 21 when senior leaders LK Advani, party president Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar will participate. The party president will campaign for six days, while Swaraj will campaign for approximately four days, Naqvi said. It isn't clear when or where Modi will campaign.