New Delhi:
The BJP's most senior leaders met this evening and "unanimously" rejected the resignation of LK Advani, the 85-year-old leader who quit all party posts a day after Narendra Modi was chosen to lead the party's election campaign for the national elections.
Party president Rajnath Singh announced after the emergency meeting that Mr Advani is "our leader" and stressed that the party "needs him and his guidance more today than ever before." (Read: BJP rejects LK Advani's resignation)
But sources say that the BJP's quandary is how to win back Mr Advani without compromising on its determination to award top billing to Mr Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
After the meeting, members of the BJP's parliamentary board including Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj met with Mr Advani at his residence.
BJP General Secretary Muralidhar Rao flew in to Delhi from Hyderabad and met Mr Advani at his residence. Mr Rao is known for his proximity to both Mr Advani and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP.
Sources say that it is the Sangh which has disturbed Mr Advani by insisting that Mr Modi be named the chairman of the BJP's election campaign committee at a party conference in Goa even though Mr Advani was not present. The official reason given was illness.
The Sangh, sources say, wanted to signal that the BJP has recognised and rewarded Mr Modi for his irrefutable strength as a vote-getter. (Full coverage)
Party president Rajnath Singh announced after the emergency meeting that Mr Advani is "our leader" and stressed that the party "needs him and his guidance more today than ever before." (Read: BJP rejects LK Advani's resignation)
But sources say that the BJP's quandary is how to win back Mr Advani without compromising on its determination to award top billing to Mr Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
After the meeting, members of the BJP's parliamentary board including Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj met with Mr Advani at his residence.
BJP General Secretary Muralidhar Rao flew in to Delhi from Hyderabad and met Mr Advani at his residence. Mr Rao is known for his proximity to both Mr Advani and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP.
Sources say that it is the Sangh which has disturbed Mr Advani by insisting that Mr Modi be named the chairman of the BJP's election campaign committee at a party conference in Goa even though Mr Advani was not present. The official reason given was illness.
The Sangh, sources say, wanted to signal that the BJP has recognised and rewarded Mr Modi for his irrefutable strength as a vote-getter. (Full coverage)
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