Edited by Shamik Ghosh | Updated: June 18, 2013 18:23 IST
New Delhi: In Delhi today, Narendra Modi appeared to be on a peace-keeping mission.
He spent 45 minutes meeting with LK Advani, who resigned earlier this month from all party posts to protest against Mr Modi being placed in charge of the BJP's election campaign.
The 45-minute meeting was described a "positive" by sources. They said the Gujarat Chief Minister "sought Mr Advani's blessings" and assured him that he will consult with other senior party leaders in his new role.
He spent 45 minutes meeting with LK Advani, who resigned earlier this month from all party posts to protest against Mr Modi being placed in charge of the BJP's election campaign.
The 45-minute meeting was described a "positive" by sources. They said the Gujarat Chief Minister "sought Mr Advani's blessings" and assured him that he will consult with other senior party leaders in his new role.
Sources say Mr Advani told Mr Modi that he was not opposed to that new
post, but would have preferred for the BJP to create two separate teams
to handle the upcoming state and national elections.
That proposal was rejected by the BJP's powerful ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS, which earlier this month instructed the BJP to announce Mr Modi's appointment as the chairman of the election campaign committee.
Mr Advani was persuaded to rescind his resignation by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The two leaders are likely to meet tomorrow, but insiders say that for all the attempts to mend fences, the barbed wires will remain.
The RSS has already made it clear that there will be no compromise on the VVIP status of Mr Modi.
However, Mr Advani has received a shot in the arm this week from the bitter ending of a 17-year alliance between his party and the Janata Dal United or JD(U).
Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav, the main leaders of the JD(U), said they could not remain with the BJP which seems to be priming Mr Modi for its prime ministerial nomination. The JD(U) said this is unacceptable because it considers Mr Modi a "divisive" leader.
The JD(U) was part of the main opposition coalition, the National Democratic Alliance or NDA, which is fronted by the BJP.
A section of the BJP feels Mr Advani may, as NDA chairman, instigate other allies to block Mr Modi from running for prime minister.
That proposal was rejected by the BJP's powerful ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS, which earlier this month instructed the BJP to announce Mr Modi's appointment as the chairman of the election campaign committee.
Mr Advani was persuaded to rescind his resignation by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. The two leaders are likely to meet tomorrow, but insiders say that for all the attempts to mend fences, the barbed wires will remain.
The RSS has already made it clear that there will be no compromise on the VVIP status of Mr Modi.
However, Mr Advani has received a shot in the arm this week from the bitter ending of a 17-year alliance between his party and the Janata Dal United or JD(U).
Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav, the main leaders of the JD(U), said they could not remain with the BJP which seems to be priming Mr Modi for its prime ministerial nomination. The JD(U) said this is unacceptable because it considers Mr Modi a "divisive" leader.
The JD(U) was part of the main opposition coalition, the National Democratic Alliance or NDA, which is fronted by the BJP.
A section of the BJP feels Mr Advani may, as NDA chairman, instigate other allies to block Mr Modi from running for prime minister.
Source: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/what-happened-at-narendra-modi-s-meeting-with-lk-advani-today-381140
