Indore: On Sunday, while holding a public gathering at Dushehra Maidan in Indore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan (Tai) for her "dedication" towards work, and said that she was the only Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader who could admonish him.

PM Modi said, "As the Lok Sabha speaker, 'Tai' (as Mahajan is popularly known in the constituency) has carried out her duties in a skillful and controlled way. It is because of this, she has left an indelible impression on the minds of people."

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"All of you know me as prime minister. But perhaps very few people know that in our party (BJP), if there is anybody who can admonish me, it is Tai," Modi said in the presence of Mahajan, who was seated on the dais.

"Tai and I have worked in the BJP together. The kind of dedication she has towards work, I assure the people of Indore that in terms of the development of the city, none of Tai's wishes will be left unfulfilled," Modi said.

Mahajan, an eight-time MP, had last month opted out of contesting the general elections saying she had freed the party to make its choice. She had, however, maintained that she would continue to work for the BJP and campaign for it.

The BJP had later announced the candidature of Shankar Lalwani for the Indore Lok Sabha seat. He will be fighting against Congress's Pankaj Sanghvi. Polling for the Indore seat will be held on May 19, in the last phase of parliamentary polls.

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