New Delhi:
Senior BJP leader LK Advani has cancelled his meeting with Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today because he is unwell. Mr Advani, who has also cancelled other meetings that he was supposed to attend during the day, is now expected to meet Mr Bhagwat tomorrow.
In the meeting with Mr Advani, Mr Bhagwat is expected to attempt to placate the senior BJP leader who had resigned earlier this month from all party posts to protest against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's big promotion.
Yesterday, Mr Modi met Mr Advani for 45 minutes at his residence. The Gujarat Chief Minister reportedly "sought Mr Advani's blessings" and promised to consult senior leaders in his new role. But sources say Mr Advani continues to voice his grievance over Mr Modi's elevation as in charge of the BJP's election campaign.
Mr Advani reportedly told Mr Modi during their meeting that he was not opposed to his promotion, but would have preferred for the BJP to create two separate teams to handle the upcoming state and national elections.
That proposal was rejected by BJP's ideological mentor, the RSS, which earlier this month instructed the BJP to announce Mr Modi's appointment as the chairman of the election campaign committee.
The RSS chief had then played peacemaker and persuaded Mr Advani to rescind his resignation. But the Sangh is firm that there will be no compromise on the VVIP status of Mr Modi. Insiders say that for all the attempts to mend fences, the barbed wires will remain.
The challenges of projecting Mr Modi as the BJP's main face were laid bare this week with the bitter ending of a 17-year alliance between his party and the Janata Dal United or JD(U).
Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav, the main leaders of the JD(U), said they could not remain with the BJP which seems to be priming Mr Modi for its prime ministerial nomination. The JD(U) said this is unacceptable because it considers Mr Modi a "divisive" leader.
In the meeting with Mr Advani, Mr Bhagwat is expected to attempt to placate the senior BJP leader who had resigned earlier this month from all party posts to protest against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's big promotion.
Yesterday, Mr Modi met Mr Advani for 45 minutes at his residence. The Gujarat Chief Minister reportedly "sought Mr Advani's blessings" and promised to consult senior leaders in his new role. But sources say Mr Advani continues to voice his grievance over Mr Modi's elevation as in charge of the BJP's election campaign.
Mr Advani reportedly told Mr Modi during their meeting that he was not opposed to his promotion, but would have preferred for the BJP to create two separate teams to handle the upcoming state and national elections.
That proposal was rejected by BJP's ideological mentor, the RSS, which earlier this month instructed the BJP to announce Mr Modi's appointment as the chairman of the election campaign committee.
The RSS chief had then played peacemaker and persuaded Mr Advani to rescind his resignation. But the Sangh is firm that there will be no compromise on the VVIP status of Mr Modi. Insiders say that for all the attempts to mend fences, the barbed wires will remain.
The challenges of projecting Mr Modi as the BJP's main face were laid bare this week with the bitter ending of a 17-year alliance between his party and the Janata Dal United or JD(U).
Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav, the main leaders of the JD(U), said they could not remain with the BJP which seems to be priming Mr Modi for its prime ministerial nomination. The JD(U) said this is unacceptable because it considers Mr Modi a "divisive" leader.
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