BJP leaders downplay absence of Modi from national executive

New Delhi, Sep 30: BJP leaders today (Sept 30) downplayed the absence of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the party's national executive committee meeting, saying there is no infighting in the party.

"Infighting is there in the Congress and not in our Party," senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi told reporters here when asked about Modi's absence from the meeting.

Denying any rift between senior leaders of the party, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, "There is no clash".

Barring Modi and former Karantaka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, all prominent BJP leaders attended the two-day national meet of the party.

Modi's absence from the crucial meeting comes in the backdrop of talks of differences between him and senior party leader L K Advani.

While BJP Central leaders are silent on the growing rift between Modi and Advani, there is a buzz that this is the reason for the chief minister keeping away. Modi is said to be unhappy with Advani''s yatra for good governance and clean politics starting on October 11.

Modi had reportedly even told Advani that the yatra is "unnecessary and irrelevant", according to sources.

PTI