New Delhi:
Narendra Modi was today attacked by Congress which said many BJP leaders are not attending the party's conclave in Goa because they are falling sick "due to the Gujarat Chief Minister".
"BJP should think what will happen to the country because of him. My full sympathies to those who are falling sick due to Modi," Congress leader Rashid Alvi said.
Party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed also took a dig at the BJP over the development, remarking "Modi group has chased away Advani group within the BJP".
While Mr Advani will not be attending the office-bearers meeting today, he is expected to be present at the party national executive tomorrow.
Mr Modi's role in the next Lok Sabha election is expected to be the dominant theme of the BJP national executive, amid a strong demand from some sections of the party for declaring him the campaign committee head.
Ahead of the two-day conclave, central office-bearers of the party will meet to discuss the agenda for the national executive.
Sources said some of the office-bearers are likely to press for declaring Mr Modi as the campaign committee head during the conclave.
But a consensus on the issue is eluding the party top brass. As a result, the proposal may not see the light of day at the National Executive meet.
Several top BJP leaders are likely to skip the national executive. Vice President Uma Bharti, General Secretary Varun Gandhi, Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jaswant Singh and Shatrughan Sinha are not likely to attend, party sources said.