Modi to be the 2014 campaign chief, Advani skips 'Big Meet'

Panaji, June 8: The National Executive Meet in Goa that has become the 'Big Meeting' now, witnessed fewer participation today as well. Some of the top leaders like Uma Bharati and Shatrughan Sinha have decided to give the meeting a skip. However, the absence of LK Advani has brewed up a lot of controversy within the party.

As the party gears up to name Modi as the next campaign commitee chief, a reluctant Advani demands another committee -- the POll Managment Committee -- to be headed by Gadkari. The final decision, however, lies with the National Party President Rajnath Singh, who is likely to announce the decision tomorrow. Efforts, however, are on to convince Advani do the announcements. But, things seemed to have worsened as Modi seems to be getting an edge over other leaders as the next campaign committee chief.

The meeting sparked controversy as the veteran leader stayed away from a party executive meeting for the first time since BJP's inception in 1980. He, however, stated that he skipped the meeting because of ill health. Sources, however, state otherwise as they reveal that he was against any decision that indicated Modi's position in the party.

Party leaders like Uma Bharati and Shatrughan Sinha, who seem to be aligned with Advani, have also given the meeting a skip. Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, argues that the executive meeting is not the best forum to discuss whether Modi is elected the campaign committee head.

Though party leaders call the "rift" a fabrication, the differences between the leaders are pretty evident. While one section believes that projecting Modi is a political necessity for the party to emerge victorious in the next Lok Sabha elections in 2014, the other section is sceptical about the issue.

The question remains! Would the next best party contesting for the Lok Sabha elections be able to clear itself of the controversies surrounding it regarding the divide?

OneIndia.com