Advani should gauge public mood on NaMo: Sushil Modi

He said that Advani could have declared Narendra Modi as the party's face for the 2014 general elections

Amid efforts to convince L K Advani on declaring Narendra Modi as BJP's prime ministerial candidate ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls, party leader from Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi today said the veteran leader had failed to gauge the public mood in this regard.

The former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said Advani had declared Atal Behari Vajpayee as the party's face in the past and he could have done the same for Narendra Modi today.

"Advaniji has failed to gauge the public mood. Advaniji himself declared Atalji as PM candidate. Now also he could have done the same for Namo," Modi said on Twitter.

Advani is appearing to be a stumbling block for the BJP in finalising the name of Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate and hectic efforts were underway to convince him to give up his opposition.

Senior BJP leaders have held meetings with Advani to bring him on board on Modi's name. BJP President Rajnath Singh held a half an hour meeting with Advani, while former party president Nitin Gadkari had met the party's parliamentary party chief yesterday as an emissary of the RSS.

Advani is opposed to Modi's candidature and had announced his resignation from all party posts soon after Modi's anointment as BJP Campaign Committee chief in the recently held national executive at Goa.

Sources say Advani has not given up his opposition to the Gujarat Chief Minister during his recent meetings with party's top brass.