Advani endorses most Modi views
Rift Settled?
While it is known that Mr L.K. Advani is upset with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s rising graph, the BJP leadership tried to send signals at its parliamentary board meeting that all is well between the two leaders ahead of the crucial Assembly polls and the general election.
While Mr Advani, sitting beside Mr Modi, endorsed most of Mr Modi’s views and those of other leaders, he also rejected suggestions that tickets should be given only to “winnable” candidates. Mr Advani, sources said, wants BJP candidates to have a “clean image” as well.
The party veteran, sources said, also suggested that instead of promoting just the Gujarat model, the party should promote the Atal model of development. He also reiterated that the party should also focus on expanding the NDA fold at a time when its ally of 17 years, the JD(U), snapped ties over Mr Modi’s elevation. The Gujarat CM is considered the top contender for the party’s prime ministerial candidate.
After some senior leaders had raised objections to Mr Modi holding a meeting of general secretaries and other office-bearers recently to discuss poll strategy without even forming the campaign committee, the BJP chief decided to call the parliamentary board meeting to send a signal that the board is the highest authority in the party.
It was decided that Mr Modi, as head of the campaign committee, would start a countrywide outreach plan. Sources disclosed that the Gujarat CM is likely to address party workers in Patna via a teleconference on July 5. He is likely to visit Bhubaneswar on July 16 and Hyderabad at the end of the month. The next meeting of the parliamentary board is scheduled for July 8.
This was the first parliamentary board meeting after Mr Modi’s elevation to campaign committee head and the JD(U) quitting the NDA. It was also the first parliamentary board meeting after Mr Advani’s resignation drama over Mr Modi’s elevation.
The board meeting and the subsequent meeting of its members with party general secretaries discussed ways to take on the Congress-led government.
Other than Assembly polls and the general polls, issues, including the alleged “misuse” of the CBI against the backdrop of the probe report into the Ishrat killing and the government’s decision to promulgate an ordinance on food security, were also taken up by party leaders. The BJP will also hold prayer meetings for the Uttarakhand victims Meanwhile, Mr Advani is likely to meet senior RSS leaders in Nagpur on Friday where he is going to attend a private function of a RSS leader.
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