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New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hit out at the anointment of L K Advani as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate on Tuesday, saying the BJP was nervous and fearful of Narendra Modi.

The celebrations are just not ending for L K Advani who, as the official Prime Ministerial nominee of the BJP, is the shadow Prime Minister.

But the timing of this decision is proving that all is not well for the opposition party.

Said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, "The BJP is worried that Modi could win. That’s why they have decided to anoint Mr Advani today."

It’s a comment that has revealed the embarrassing truth that no one in the BJP wants to admit and Advani has been shown to be a worried man, worried that something might go against him, which might just rob him of a final chance to lead the very party which he founded along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A good performance from the latest Hindutva hero, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, would have added to that pressure to give in.

Amid the strong exchange of words between the Congress and the BJP, all the NDA allies who stood opposed to the hard Hindutva mask of Advani are now reacting positively, if in a cautiously lukewarm way.

JD(U) President Sharad Yadav says, " We welcome it" while the BJD leader, B J Panda says, " We are happy with this decision."

However, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called the decision a "very significant and positive development for the country".

Describing Advani as an able, highly competent administrator and a far-sighted leader, Badal enthused, "Advani is fully conversant with problems of the common people of the country and has always displayed his commitment to finding immediate as well as long lasting solutions for various problems facing the country."

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar was equally enthusiastic.

"Advani is the natural choice to lead the party in the next Lok Sabha elections," said Kumar, who had always supported Vajpayee as NDA's prime ministerial choice.

However, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav did not think Advani would become the PM. In his characteristic style, the former Bihar CM said, "The post of Prime Minister is not in Advani's horoscope."

With inputs from PTI