Following the drama over the anointment of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate, the party’s national president Rajnath Singh on Saturday admitted that Mr Advani is currently unhappy, but said that it was an internal matter of the party.
Mr Singh was in Mumbai, where he interacted with reporters at the Rangsharda auditorium, and initially tried to downplay Mr Advani’s discontent. However, when grilled over the latest letter written by Mr Advani to him, Mr Singh admitted to the in-house rift for the first time.
“It is an internal matter. But, Mr Advani is our guardian and I will listen to what he has to say and if something has gone wrong, will also rectify it,” Mr Singh said.
He, however, added, “There are no differences over Mr Modi being named as the PM candidate. He enjoys undisputed support from all. You must have seen that just after the announcement, Mr Modi even went to meet Advaniji at his residence. Mr Advani is active in the party functioning and will continue to remain so in the future too.”
The BJP president also demanded that the Congress now announce its candidate for the top post.
Replying to a question about the MNS joining the NDA as its new ally, Mr Singh clearly stated that the party would not take any such decision without taking the Shiv Sena — an old ally of NDA — into confidence.