Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah, who is in Mumbai on a three-day visit to strengthen the party organisation in the state, and is scheduled to meet Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, said on Saturday that his party would consult its allies before finalising the National Democratic Alliance's presidential candidate.

"We will consult all our allies and then reach adecision on the presidential poll nominee," Shah told a press conference.

He was responding to questions about ally Shiv Sena, which has often been critical of the BJP and the Modigovernment, suggesting the name of M S Swaminathan, known forsteering India's Green Revolution, as its presidential choice.

The Shiv Sena had earlier said it may choose an 'independent' path in the election to the highest constitutional office.

It had backed Congress nominees -- Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee -- in the last two presidential elections.

When asked about Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' remark that the BJP was prepared for snap assembly election, in an apparent reference to continued strain in ties with the Shiv Sena, Shah said, "What he meant was that if mid-term polls are forced on us, we are ready to fight."

Calling Narendra Modi the most popular leader since Independence, Shah said the prime minister was making all efforts to transform India into a world power by 2022, when the nation celebrates 75 years of freedom.

Under Modi, he said, India had become the world's fastest growing major economy.

The BJP chief said Modi had restored dignity to the prime minister's office.

"Every minister in the previous UPA government considered himself the PM, but nobody considered the PM as PM," he said. -- PTI