Gandhinagar:
As a storm around his promotion raged in Delhi,
Narendra Modi today seemed to be already settling into his role as chairman of the BJP's election campaign committee. At a function in Gandhinagar today, he coined a new slogan - "Ek Bharat Shresht Bharat (One India, best India)."
This evening, as senior BJP leader
LK Advani - who was reportedly miffed at Mr Modi's elevation at a BJP conclave in Goa on Sunday - withdrew his resignation from party posts, the Gujarat Chief Minister tweeted, "I had said yesterday that Advani ji will not disappoint lakhs of Karyakartas. Today, I whole heartedly welcome his decision!"
After top party leaders visited the veteran leader's home today to persuade him, BJP chief
Rajnath Singh announced that 85-year-old Mr Advani has withdrawn his resignation. However, it's not clear what the BJP ceded to secure Mr Advani's return. On record, the BJP chief said only that in future, he will directly address any concerns that Mr Advani has about the party.
Sources say that Mr Advani has been assured that Mr Modi's appointment as the chairman of the campaign committee will not automatically lead to his selection as the party's prime ministerial candidate. The BJP has reportedly promised extensive consultations to select its presumptive prime minister.
Mr Modi yesterday tweeted to say he phoned Mr Advani, spoke to him at length, and urged him to change his mind and take into account "the wishes of lakhs of party workers."