Split wide open - Strain in Modi-Advani relationship?

New Delhi, Sept 30: In-fighting within political parties seem to be the order of the day with the BJP now becoming the latest victim of this trend. With Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi choosing not to attend the National Executive Meet, the rift between LK Advani and Modi has become more obvious. The meet will start on Friday (Sept 30).

The news that senior BJP leader Advani choosing to kickstart his high profile Rath Yatra from Bihar and not Gujarat has also not gone down well with Modi. By choosing to do this, Advani has chosen to do away with the two-decade old ritual of visiting the Somnath temple every year on Sept 25 to mark the Ram Rath Yatra of 1990.

With the BJP trying to put up a brave face and rubbish all reports of a rift, BJP Party President Nitin Gadkari commented, "We are expecting Narendra Modi at the meet, but there are some issues regarding Navratri."

The fact that Advani chose Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to flag off his yatra on Oct 11 has also sparked uneasiness for Modi. The rath yatra was earlier scheduled to kickstart from Karamsad in Gujarat.

Modi's Sadbhavana fast grabbing the eyeballs more than Advani's proposed rath yatra has also upset Advani. With both parties claiming that they were not undergoing the fast/yatra eyeing the Prime Minister's post, the matter is likely to get better clarity over time.

Gadkari had stated in a press conference on Advani's yatra, "The Yatra is not linked with prime ministership. It is aimed at clean politics and good governance. The party will support it fully and contribute to making it a success."

OneIndia News