LIKE the eligible Non-Resident Indian on a short holiday to find a bride, the Tatas rushed around India looking for a site to relocate its Nano project.

And, like proud, wealthy Indian Dads, chief ministers of three Indian states wooed them with massive concessions. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat went out of their way to showcase what they had to offer.

But the Tatas, after burning their fingers in Singur, were in a hurry and did not want to take promises at face value. They settled for Gujarat.

How did the pro-industry Gujarat pull off the deal leaving the other two suitors shell-shocked?

On Sunday morning, the Tata team led by Tata Motors MD Ravi Kant, had visited a few sites in Karnataka.

The same afternoon, his team was shown a site near Hyderabad by the Andhra Pradesh government.

But it was Gujarat which worked overtime behind the scenes to convince the Tatas of its intent.

Tata Motors MD Ravi Kant told the Times of India that it took Gujarat just 10 days to tie up all the loose ends ? make the land ready for possession, get all clearances and approvals and offer a final deal.

Mr Rattan Tata said on Tuesday evening that his company decided to take up the offer "late last evening", and he was in Ahmedabad the next day to sign a memorandum of understanding with the state government.

Reports have it that the personal rapport Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has with the Tata boss had a big say in the deal.

Mr Modi is said to have set up a special team to work out the deal, which kept all matters relating to it a secret.

Towards the middle of last month, Mr Kant made a secret visit to Mr Modi's bungalow in Gandhinagar, reported the Indian Express.

It was here that the first round of talks were conducted. Since then, it is believed, Mr Modi has been in personal touch with Mr Tata over the phone.

MrModi has always resisted doling out concessions to industrialists, but he was said to be willing to make an exception for the Tatas, who had made it clear that concessions were needed if it were to maintain the Rs 1 lakh (S$3,000) price tag for the Nano.

He has reportedly assured the Tatas that his state would give indirect benefits by way of providing infrastructure.

The deal given by Gujarat is just as good as the one that was offered by West Bengal.

The state has given 1,100 acres which would be sold to Tata Motors at prevailing market rates.

West Bengal had offered 1,000 acres.

It is estimated the land would cost between Rs 300 crore and 400 crore. However, the Tatas will only need to make a staggered payment.

The land, at Sanand near Ahmedabad, was part of about 2,200 acres owned by the Gujarat Agricultural University.

It was transferred overnight to the state government and allocated to the Tatas.

Meanwhile, state officials in Karnataka are wondering what hit them.

The state's chief minister had offered abundant land, water, power, tax concessions and incentives.

But sources told DNA that the power crisis in the state could have been one of the reasons why the Tatas chose Gujarat.

MrModi's state claims to be one of the few in India with power available all year round.

Andhra Pradesh had offered Rs300 crore but farmers had already raised flags of protest when the Tata team went to inspect a site near Hyderabad.