Advani to skip today's BJP Goa conclave due to ill health

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K Advani will not attend the BJP national executive meet in Goa today.

According to reports, Advani is unwell and will skip an important session of the party's office-bearers today. He will arrive in Goa tomorrow.

Today's meeting will be followed by a meeting of the national executive - a group of about 300 leaders, including chief ministers- to discuss the BJP's strategy for approaching state elections and next year's general election.

Television reports suggest that today's meeting may also take a call on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's role in leading the party's 2014 poll campaign.

The BJP had earlier downplayed reports that Modi will head the campaign committee for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and said that party chief Rajnath Singh will take a final call on it at an appropriate time.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar lauded Modi, saying he is one of the most respected and successful BJP chief ministers.

"Narendra Modi is our most senior and successful chief minister. He is quite popular among the people throughout the country and has become a symbol of corruption-free governance," said Javadekar.

"Now, what responsibilities he should be given and when he should be given that is a subject for the parliamentary board and the national president. The national president will make announcements at an appropriate time ," he added.