Prime role for Modi top issue at BJP apex executive meet

Party patriarch Advani's absence fuels buzz; Uma Bharti too not present

The three-day national executive meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began on Friday but without the presence of senior leader L K Advani.

This added fuel to the rumours of sharp differences within the brass on the issue of making Gujarat supremo and chief minister, Narendra Modi, the party’s face for next year’s general elections. Party president Rajnath Singh and a few others are supposed to be considering the appointment of Modi as chief of the central election campaign committee.

Other leaders explained Advani’s absence as due to ill health and indicated he’d come for tomorrow’s proceedings. There has long been informed speculation on a prime role for Modi.

Yet, a strong section in the party believes Modi should at least be made the chairman of the campaign committee to send a clear message of his being the party’s mascot in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

“The final decision on elevation of Narendra Modi will be taken on Sunday morning. Leaders are discussing the issue,” said a senior who is close to Rajnath Singh.

Advani is believed to have recently asked Rajnath Singh to appoint former party head Nitin Gadkari as chairman of the election management committee. Singh was reported to have rejected the idea.

It appears there was a plan to reach a final decision on Modi’s elevation on Friday and have an extended meeting of the parliamentary board but this could not happen because of Advani’s absence.

“All parliamentary board members are present in Goa except L K Advani. All chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and state party presidents are present for the meeting,” said Sudhanshu Trivedi, political advisor to Singh.

Sushma Swaraj, head of the party in the Lok Sabha, who is reportedly also opposed to Modi’s elevation, reached Goa late. As a result, the officebearers’ meeting had to be delayed by a couple of hours.

Apart from Advani, some other seniors are also absent. One is Uma Bharati, vice-president and an Advani supporter. She is also unwell and has written to Singh to convey the reason. Former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh is also not attending because of ill-health. Vinay Katiyar from Uttar Pradesh is also not attending.

Host speaks
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is hosting the party's National Executive in the state capital, on Friday said Indians are waiting for the BJP-led NDA's return at the Centre. “Indians are waiting for BJP-led NDA's return to power at the Centre to deliver good governance,” Parrikar said on his Facebook page. The meeting of the party's office-bearers is being held on Friday.     

"This country so badly desires and deserves good governance," the CM said. Parrikar said that considering Lok Sabha elections are only a few months away, this conclave will be crucial in setting up a roadmap towards winning the elections.     

"It gives me immense pleasure to welcome BJP senior leaders and various other dignitaries in Goa for BJP national executive," he said.