Modi meets Advani, seeks to put behind acrimony

Seeking to put behind the acrimony witnessed last week, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today met senior BJP leader L K Advani, who had resigned in protest against his appointment as head of the Election Campaign Committee.
Modi, on his first visit to Delhi after his elevation, had a 45-minute interaction with Advani which was described by sources close to the BJP patriarch as "good and one that ended on a positive note".
Sources said the two leaders discussed a range of issues including party's internal affairs and the split in NDA after BJP's old-time ally JD(U) parted ways after an alliance of 17 years.

Today's meeting assumes significance as Advani had opposed Modi's anointment and had resigned from key party posts on June 10. Advani, however, withdrew his resignation the following day after RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat intervened.
Asked if Modi had gone to meet Advani today to placate him, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, "There is no acrimony, no complaint. Advani is a senior leader whom people keep meeting to discuss issues."
He defended BJP's decision to elevate Modi as head of the Election Campaign Committee, saying the issue was properly discussed and debated by the party before the decision was taken at the Goa conclave.

Trivedi, who is also political advisor to BJP President Rajnath Singh, said Modi will take over as Election Campaign Committee Chief soon and all will be taken in consultation with Singh.