In many countries, someone like Mr. Modi would stand a strong chance of becoming prime minister.
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Mr. Modi, by contrast, is adored by his supporters but reviled by his opponents.
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The UK and other Western governments suspended ties with Narendra Modi, after religious riots in 2002.
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Many in the BJP demand Mr. Modi be named to lead the party in the election.
But Mr Modi on Friday tried to allay fears that the procession had ideological motives.
Attempts to reach Mr. Modi, who hasn't said he wants the job, weren't successful.
In 1999, Modi, then 28, decided to start his own venture with a focus on jewelry.
In 2011 Narendra Modi, the chief minister of Gujarat state, visited China to drum up investment.
In Gujarat itself, Mr Modi has survived, for now, a rebellion from within the local party.
But it has a weak bargaining position, not only due to the Clarke-Modi personality clash.
Mr Modi keeps being re-elected in Gujarat mostly because he runs the place efficiently.
But IPL commissioner Lalit Modi insisted that decisions were taken by franchisees according to their "cricketing strategy".
Modi operates what is now a far-flung empire spanning diamond sourcing, and manufacturing to retailing diamond jewelry.
If Mr Modi is ever to succeed him, he too will need to try on a different mask.
Mr Modi was invited to speak via video-link at a conference at the University of Pennsylvania this month.
Mr Modi, who belongs to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has not reacted to the development.
But posters of Mr Modi, defiantly silhouetted against the backdrop of a blazing train, have appeared across Gujarat.
Mr Modi has already sent a 15, 000-page reply to earlier corruption allegations brought against him by cricket officials.
His father Deepak Modi shifted to Antwerp in the 1960s to be at the center of the diamond trade.
Mr Modi was accused of not doing anything to stop the violence, but he has always denied any wrongdoing.
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Modi has been accused of owning secret shares in several teams as well as fixing and gambling on matches.
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The IPL has become mired in controversy since Pietersen's departure with chairman Lallit Modi suspended amid allegations of corruption.
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Many Western government broke off contact with Mr Modi's government after the riots.
This is especially true of ultra-Orthodox communities close to the 1967 border such as Beitar Ilit and Modi'in Ilit.
As for the benefits to ordinary Gujaratis, Mr Modi cites more girls at school and fewer drop-outs from education.
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"The chairman of the ECB and I have had extensive dialogue, " said Modi.
Meanwhile, Lalit Modi, vice-president of the Indian cricket board (BCCI), expects England to return - if safety assurances are met.
Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi has said any team fielding unsanctioned ICL players will be excluded from the autumn tournament.
Mr Modi has always denied any wrongdoing in connection with the violence, but has not expressed remorse or offered an apology.
Clarke and Modi have a strained relationship and one insider told BBC Sport they dislike being in the same room together.
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