Ansari, a Rajya Sabha member of the JD-U, told IANS that some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders appear to be in a hurry to propose the name of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate but other alliance partners have indicated they have their own views on the matter.

He said a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) could be called to decide the prime ministerial candidate.

"BJP should form its opinion on the question and propose names at such a meeting so that a consensus could be reached," he said.

Ansari favoured early declaration of the prime ministerial candidate of the NDA, and said people would like to know the leader of the alliance.

"It is a question concerning the country. People want to know who is the candidate," Ansari told IANS.

Ansari said some people in the BJP appeared "restless" that Modi should be declared the prime ministerial candidate, but indicated that the JD-U would not accept any such move.

He said JD-U had contested the assembly polls separately in Gujarat where the BJP was led by Modi.

While some leaders in the BJP have said that Modi should be declared the prime ministerial candidate, the Shiv Sena, a constituent of the NDA, has expressed its preference for Sushma Swaraj, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, as the NDA prime ministerial candidate.

Ansari said declaration of candidate will bring clarity to the issue.

He said the BJP could also declare its candidate on its own and the party will then be given reaction by others.