Narendra Modi, whose elevation as BJP’s chief campaigner for the forthcoming general elections has tried to put behind the acrimony that his elevation has created in the party and met with the piqued senior leader LK Advani, who had resigned in protest against his appointment as head of the election campaign committee, and saw its oldest ally JD-U parting ways with it.
Modi, on his first visit to New Delhi after his elevation, had a 45-minute interaction with Advani which was described by sources close to the BJP patriarch as "good and one that ended on a positive note".
The two leaders have reportedly discussed a range of issues including party's internal affairs and the split in NDA after JD-U divorced its alliance with BJP after 17 years. Tuesday’s meeting assumes significance as Advani had opposed Modi's anointment and had resigned from key party posts on June 10. Advani, however, withdrew his resignation the following day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat intervened. Asked if Modi had gone to meet Advani today to placate him, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, "there is no acrimony, no complaint. Advani is a senior leader whom people keep meeting to discuss issues." He defended BJP's decision to elevate Modi saying the issue was properly discussed and debated by the party before the decision was taken at the Goa conclave.
Trivedi, who is also political advisor to BJP president Rajnath Singh, said Modi will take over as election campaign committee chief soon and all will be taken in consultation with Singh.
