Panaji:
Ignoring the opposition from some of its most senior leaders including LK Advani, the BJP today announced that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will head a committee that will lead the party into the national elections.
Here are the top 10 developments in this story:
Narendra Modi's promotion was shared by party president Rajnath Singh with 300 leaders and workers who had gathered in Goa for the national executive. Sources said the applause lasted for 10 minutes.
Rajnath Singh then shared the decision with the media. He was accompanied by senior leaders like Arun Jaitley and a visibly grim Sushma Swaraj, who is seen to be an Advani loyalist.
Shortly after his new role was announced, Mr Modi tweeted. "Spoke to Advani ji on the phone. He gave me his blessings. Honoured and extremely grateful to receive his blessings."
Mr Advani has, for the first time since the BJP was formed, absented himself from a session of the national executive. Other detractors of Mr Modi like Yashwant Sinha and Jaswant Singh also skipped the conference.
Mr Advani addressed a group of students in Jaipur via video conference but did not refer at all to Mr Modi's new role or the developments at the party conclave in Goa.
Yashwant Sinha in Delhi said that the BJP appears to be making decisions in response to the media projecting what he described as "a clash of personalities." He said "the real issues are being buried" and did not offer congratulations for Mr Modi.
In his victory speech in Goa, Mr Modi appeared to be taking a swipe at the missing veteran. The chief minister praised Rajnath Singh for being 'large hearted.' Mr Modi said "Rajnathji stood up to speak and asked me to sit. It is difficult for those outside to understand the importance of this. A person does not do so only by having a post but by having a heart. This is called 'daria dilli' (large-heartedness), which the President has shown."
Mr Modi said the BJP must focus on freeing India from the ruling Congress. He asked the cadres to dream for "Congress-free Bharat Nirman."
Rajnath Singh was reportedly worried about escalating the rift within the BJP by announcing Mr Modi's elevation in the absence of Mr Advani. However, sources say that the party's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS said the dithering must end. The RSS wanted to convey that the party workers' clamour for top billing for Mr Modi is recognised and respected.
Mr Modi's new appointment is seen by many as the penultimate stage in his winning the BJP's nomination for prime minister, a prospect which unnerves his detractors within and outside the BJP.
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