LK Advani was one of four senior leaders who had raised a revolt after the BJP's dismal show in Bihar polls. (Reuters photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was heading in the "right direction", BJP veteran LK Advani said today, softening his tone for the first time since joining an open rebellion against the party's current leadership.
After casting his vote for the local body elections in Gujarat today, Mr Advani said he was hopeful of a BJP win.
The 88-year-old was one of four senior leaders who had raised the revolt after the party's dismal show in Bihar polls.
"The way Narendra Modi led the party to victory in Lok Sabha election, we are hopeful that the same performance will be repeated in local body elections," Mr Advani said.
The remark was in sharp contrast to the strongly-worded statement released by Mr Advani along with Murli Manohar Joshi, Shanta Kumar and Yashwant Sinha where the leaders said the
Bihar results showed "no lesson has been learnt" from the party's crushing defeat in Delhi in February.
Asked about PM Modi's government today, he said, "I believe that the whole system takes its own time. Since, the government is going in the right direction, I believe that the results will also be good."
Political TestVoting was held today for six municipal corporation polls in the state, including Ahmedabad, in the first phase of the local elections that saw 47 per cent voting.
The elections are seen as crucial political test for Chief Minister Anandiben Patel who was chosen as his successor in Gujarat by PM Modi last year.
Ms Patel's leadership has run into turbulence in recent months over the quota agitation by the Patel community who form 16 per cent of the state's electorate.
The BJP brass, including Mr Advani and party's national president Amit Shah, converged in Ahmedabad to cast their votes.
But the polling was also marred by allegations that names of voters in many in Patel-dominated areas of Ahmedabad and Surat were missing from electoral rolls.
Political action will shift to rural areas as the second and final phase of polls will see voters polling in Nagarpalika and Taluka panchayats on November 29 and on December 2.