Panaji:
BJP veteran LK Advani is yet to confirm his participation at the convention of party workers in Goa on June 9. Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi will be addressing the event on "public demand", a senior party leader said today.
In the context of the ongoing debate over Mr Modi's likely projection as BJP's prime ministerial nominee, BJP national executive member Laxmikant Parsekar said the media was not completely off the mark in reporting about this speculation.
"There may be some truth in what media has been speculating," Mr Parsekar told reporters.
Goa is hosting the two-day national executive meeting of the BJP, beginning on June 8, while the national office-bearers' meeting is scheduled a day before. The party workers' convention will be held on June 9.
Mr Parsekar said the 85-year-old Mr Advani has not yet confirmed his participation at the June 9 convention, adding Mr Modi will address the meet.
"The (party) workers have been asking us when they will get to hear Modi. He (Modi) would be there for the convention on public demand," the former Goa BJP chief said.
Rumour mills are abuzz over growing chasm in the party over the projection of Mr Modi as the prime ministerial candidate, especially after Mr Advani praised Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for developing a once 'BIMARU' (poor) state.
In what appears to be a counter to Mr Advani, BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters in Hyderabad today that the Gujarat heavyweight was the "most popular leader" in the country.
Interestingly, Mr Modi will be the only BJP chief minister to address the conclave. Besides Mr Singh, senior leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley will also address the meet.