A file picture of senior BJP leader LK Advani.
After almost 24 hours of sulking, LK Advani has accepted his party, the BJP's diktat that he must contest the general elections from Gandhinagar in Narendra Modi's Gujarat again. Mr Advani wanted to shift to Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh this time.
Here are 10 developments in the story
Through the day the BJP's senior-most leader refused to be moved by multiple entreaties by a series of top leaders, including Mr Modi, who visited him. In the evening, he made a statement to say he would contest from Gandhinagar after all.
Amid intense damage control, party president Rajnath Singh said this afternoon that it was wrong to say Mr Advani had been sidelined. "Advani can choose to contest from Bhopal or Gandhinagar. The choice is his," he said.
As the crisis heightened, the BJP's ideological mentor the RSS stepped in. Sources said RSS number 2 Bhaiyaji Joshi spoke to Rajnath Singh asking him to leave the decision on where to contest to Mr Advani. The RSS is reportedly displeased that the party nominated Mr Advani from Gandhinagar against his wish.
The RSS chief and deputy chief also spoke to Mr Advani and told him that the party must present a united face so close to the elections. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had last year intervened to bring around Mr Advani when he staged a protracted and public protest against Mr Modi's elevation in the party last year.
Mr Advani, sources said, had indicated to Rajnath Singh earlier this week that he wanted to shift to Bhopal from Gandhinagar, which he has held for the last 16 years straight. He reportedly said he had been invited by Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, seen as close to Mr Advani, to contest from there.
When confronted with the party's decision on his seat, Mr Advani reportedly asked why he could not get a seat of his choice when Mr Modi and Rajnath Singh got to choose theirs.
Top BJP leaders visited Mr Advani one by one since last night to convince him to contest from Gandhinagar. Mr Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, was the first to visit Mr Advani this morning, followed by Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley.
His colleagues attempted to assure Mr Advani that Mr Modi, who is chief minister of Gujarat, will ensure a win for him from Gandhinagar. Mr Advani is reportedly worried about getting inadequate support from BJP workers in the state after his protracted and public protest against Mr Modi's elevation in the party last year.
At a meeting of the party's election committee, where Mr Advani's candidacy from Gandhinagar was decided, Mr Modi reportedly argued strongly in favour of fielding the senior leader from the seat he has won five times.
Leaders close to Mr Modi have argued that if Mr Advani moves out of Gandhinagar, Mr Modi's political opponents will attack him over such a senior leader's discomfiture at contesting from his state.
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