L K Advani, Narendra Modi keep distance
New Delhi: The cold vibes between Narendra Modi and L.K. Advani, who has been unhappy over his nomination as BJP Prime Ministerial candidate, were visible when the two leaders ran into each other at a party to celebrate Ram Jethmalani’s 90th birthday in New Delhi on Sunday night.
Modi bent down before Advani in a sign of respect and then took his seat close by with Jethmalani in the middle. Both exchanged pleasantries but hardly talked to each other.Advani had stayed away from the crucial BJP Parliamentary Board meeting on Friday when the decision was announced.
Even as the BJP patriarch continue to sulk, leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Aurn Jaitley in a TV interview expressed confidence that Advani will “eventually support” the BJP’s move to anoint Modi as NDA’s PM candidate. he termed Modi’s anointment a “winning decision.”
He however, acknowledged that there were “two alternative views” within BJP on the issue and that the decision to anoint Modi as the party’s face for next general election was taken by “an overwhelming majority in the party” keeping in view “larger interests.”
Former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu said that Advani was not opposed to Modi being named as Prime Ministerial candidate but wanted the announcement to be made after elections in four states. He also praised Modi and stated that the Congress has no suitable person for the Prime Minister’s post.
“Advaniji wanted the announcement on Modi’s elevation to be made after the Assembly elections in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram. But as a democratic party, the decision was taken after a consensus was reached,” Naidu told reporters on Saturday in Mumbai.
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