Congress mocks Advani's absence in BJP meet

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New Delhi/Panaji: The BJP’s meet in Panaji is not a ‘Chintan shivir’ but a ‘manthan shiver’ says Congress leaders while drawing attention to the intense battle for power among top leaders in the saffron party. The Congress’ strategy is not to give much importance to Narendra Modi by reacting to his PM ambitions.
Taking a dig at BJP on Friday over absence of key leaders at party’s Goa conclave where a larger role for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be decided, saying “NaMonitis is spreading” in the state. Mr Modi is known as ‘NaMo’ among his supporters.
“NaMonitis virus is spreading in Goa. Our advice to the CM is to take effective counter measures otherwise it will affect tourism,” party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary told reporters.
Her comments came as several BJP leaders were reportedly skipping the Goa conclave and even the  L.K. Advani was not attending Friday’s meeting of BJP office bearers there as he was ‘unwell’.
“Due to Modi, senior leaders of the BJP are falling sick. BJP should think what will happen to the country because of him. My full sympathies to those who are falling sick due to Modi,” said Cong-ress leader Rashid Alvi.
Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed also took potshots at the BJP saying “Modi group has chased away Advani group within the BJP”.
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.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu  said that the media should not read too much into party veteran L.K. Advani’s absence from the office-bearers’ meeting.
“Don’t try to read too much into his absence for today,” Naidu said while responding to questions by reporters.
“Everything is normal. Whatever party is supposed to decide they will decide in the meeting,” the BJP leader said.
Next: Modi hogs the limelight on 1st day of BJP meet
Modi hogs the limelight on 1st day of BJP meet
New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who is considered close to Advani, reached the office-bearers’ meeting late though she had reached Goa by early afternoon.
Sources said Swaraj does not want the BJP to take any major decision in Advani’s absence. The office-bearers meet was to discuss the question of the campaign committee head, among other issues.
Till late Friday evening, there was no clarity on whether Advani will attend the two-day national executive meet beginning Saturday. While BJP president Rajnath Singh said Advani will attend the meeting, in case he decides to stay away the party might be forced to give up plans to announce Modi’s name as campaign panel head at the Goa session.
BJP president Rajnath Singh said that “due to Advaniji’s ill-health, I told him not to attend the meeting today. He will reach Goa tomorrow.”
Modi hogged the limelight on the first day of the BJP conclave. He was given a rousing welco-me by BJP supporters and leaders after his arrival in Goa on Friday. Parrikar had said on Thursday that Mr Modi can “catapult the BJP to power.”