Narendra Modi meets Advani, discusses NDA split

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi met senior BJP leader LK Advani on Tuesday.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: On his first visit to the national capital after being elevated to election campaign committee chief, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met senior BJP leader LK Advani. The duo had a "good meeting" and discussed the recent political developments, including the split in the NDA. According to reports, Modi promised Advani that he would take everyone along. The hour-long meeting between Modi and Advani at Prithviraj Road here came in the backdrop of the latter`s opposition to the former being elevated as party’s poll panel chief. The two leaders discussed a range of issues including the party`s internal affairs and the split in the NDA after BJP`s old-time ally JD(U) parted ways after an alliance of 17 years, the sources said. Today`s meeting assumed significance as Advani had resigned from key party posts expressing displeasure at being sidelined over the Modi issue. Advani, however, later withdrew his resignation following a telephonic talk with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and persuasion by BJP leaders. Modi drove down to Advani`s residence after holding talks with senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi. After meeting Advani, the Gujarat Chief Minister spent more than an hour with ailing former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence. As soon as the Gujarat CM left, Joshi told reporters that Modi came to express his gratitude after being anointed as chairman of the BJP campaign committee. "(Modi) told me that he is including everyone in the process and will uphold this responsibility well," Joshi added. "Modiji has come to Delhi to express his gratitude over his recent appointment as chairman of the BJP Campaign Committee at Goa. He has expressed his gratitude and said he is trying to fulfil the responsibility given to him," Joshi later told reporters. Modi is in Delhi primarily to meet Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and finalise the state`s annual plan. The Gujarat Chief Minister will also reportedly meet BJP president Rajnath Singh. He is also expected to meet Bhagwat, who is also slated to meet Advani. (With Agency inputs)