LK Advani is seeking to be elected from Gandhinagar for a fifth time in a row.
LK Advani's 24-hour sulk last month may not have got him the seat of his choice, but it has won him star billing on massive billboards across Gandhinagar, the capital of
Narendra Modi's Gujarat.
Mr Advani has won the Lok Sabha elections from Gandhinagar for 16 years straight, but has not featured as prominently on hoardings in the constituency as he does this time. Mr Modi, who controls the Gujarat BJP, has designated a comparatively small place on the hoardings for himself.
Party insiders confirm that this time is different from past electoral campaigns when the Gujarat chief minister hogged all the limelight. Overseeing Mr Advani's campaign and roadshows are two of Mr Modi's most trusted lieutenants, Amit Shah and Anandiben Patel, in an apparent effort to demonstrate that there are no differences between Mr Modi and his one-time political mentor, Mr Advani. (
'Bring Narendra Modi, see how things change for India': rare praise from LK Advani)
Party leaders deny any differences. "My assembly constituency Naranpura falls in Advanijis constituency and since the local unit has planned major road shows for his campaign I have also involved myself in it,'' explained Amit Shah.
Political observers say the BJP is trying to signal not only that winning Gandhinagar is important, but also that all party leaders in Gujarat are on board for Mr Advani's campaign. "There is a general perception that Modi is trying to sideline other senior party leaders. This could be an attempt at damage control and trying to show that all is well between him and his political mentor,'' said political analyst, Dinesh Shukl.
Last month, Mr Advani petitioned the BJP that he wanted to contest from Bhopal and not from Gandhinagar. The party rejected Mr Advani's request; Mr Modi reportedly made a strong pitch that the veteran must continue to contest from Gandhinagar.
An upset Mr Advani held out for a day before agreeing to contest from Gandhinagar again. Top leaders made a beeline to meet and assure him of Mr Modi's best efforts in his camopaign.
Those efforts are now on display.