Advani ignores Modi appointment in video address

Jaitley says BJP has played 'best possible card'

Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani today made no reference to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's anointment as chief of BJP's election campaign committee in Goa, while addressing a party event in Jaipur through video-conferencing.

In his 11-minute recorded address in Hindi sent from Delhi, 83-year-old Advani said he was having a stomach upset for the last three days because of which he could not attend the party's Goa meet.

Advani recalled his friendship with Pandit Sriram Dave, in whose memory the lecture event was organised in Jaipur.

Advani also updated his personal blog today, where he specifically mentioned the scene in which a wounded Bhishma lies on a bed of arrows after his defeat in the Kurukshetra war.

Meanwhile, in Goa, after being anointed, Narendra Modi virtually sounded the election bugle today, as he targeted the UPA government over various fronts and asked party cadres to work for "Congress-free Bharat Nirman."

"Let us work to make space in the hearts of people," said Modi in his address to BJP workers shortly after being named as the Campaign Committee Chairman. He asked the cadres to dream for "Congress-free Bharat Nirman" and work in this direction by ousting the UPA government in the next elections.

Modi also received support from party collaegues even as the Congress said he was no match for Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

"It is not only an overwhelming consensus among the leaders but a near-unanimous view among the cadres that you have to give a special responsibility to a person who is perceived as highly popular and an inspirational leader, as far as cadres are concerned. A party has to play its best possible card in the elections and that is what the party president has done," Modi's party colleague and senior leader, Arun Jaitley, said, to Modi's appointment.

But, even as Modi was being anointed, Goa BJP leaders remained uncertain as to what would be the reaction of minority communities to Modi's appointment as election campaign incharge, considering his image post-Gujarat violence.

While Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Modi has been accepted by minorities in Gujarat, deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza said, "Whether minorities accept him or not in Goa will have to be seen only after the Lok Sabha election results. He is a good administrator. I cannot say whether minorities will accept him or not because I am not representing minorities here."