Modi termed it “to be a work of the media”.

Speaking to news agency ANI in an exhaustive interview on New Year’s Day, Modi said “it is all media created”.

“Mediawala ko to kuch kaam milna chahiye (there should be something for the press to discuss every time),” Modi said, clearing the air on the growing political buzz and speculation and giving a hint that nothing has been decided in this regard so far.

The talks over Modi contesting from Puri had gained momentum ever since the Odisha unit of the BJP, in October last year, stated it wants PM Narendra Modi to contest from Puri Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general elections.

BJP State President Basant Panda had also said that they will place the proposal in this regard before the parliamentary board of the party.

Earlier, several leaders of the Saffron party’s State unit had claimed that Modi’s candidature will change the political situation in Odisha’s coastal belt, considered the stronghold of the ruling BJD headed by Naveen Patnaik.

In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJD nominee Pinaki Mishra had won from Puri Lok Sabha seat bagging 50.33 per cent votes. BJP nominee Ashok Sahu finished third by securing 20.76 per cent votes.

Some political analysts feel that the selection of Puri constituency in the coastal Odisha might have been done by the BJP to give it the religious-image advantage in the State and national campaign. In 2014, Modi had contested and won from Varanasi, the abode of Kashi Viswanath and this time it could be Lord Jagannath.