Narendra Modi`s supporters protest outside LK Advani’s residence

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s supporters protested outside senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani`s residence in the national capital.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s supporters on Saturday protested outside senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani`s residence in the national capital. A handful of protesters holding a banner `Narendra Modi`s Army` shouted pro-Modi slogans outside Advani`s 30-Prithviraj Road this afternoon. Holding placards like `Narendra Modi Zindabad` and `Bring Modi as Prime Minister`, the protesters demanded that Advani should step aside and allow Modi to assume a greater role. "We have come here because we want Advani to step aside and let Modi come forward. Advani should have announced Modi`s candidature for Prime Ministership in Goa but he did not do that," one of the protesters said. Another protester said, "Our main demand is that Modi should be declared as the Prime Ministerial candidate. That`s why we are protesting here." However, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that the people who gathered outside Advaniji`s house have no connection with the party. 85-year-old Advani chose to stay away from the Goa meet, perhaps for the first time in the party`s history, apparently to express his opposition to making Modi the campaign committee chief, which will in effect present him as the face of the party for the next General Elections. Modi has emerged as a strong contender to be the party`s prime ministerial candidate. Advani had suggested the formation of two campaign committees, one for the upcoming Assembly Elections in five states this year-end, led by Modi, and another one for the General Elections of 2014. “Unwell” Advani skipped the office bearers` meeting in Goa held on Friday and today. Senior party leaders say this is the first time in their memory that the party stalwart has stayed away from a meeting of the national executive. Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar today said, "Advani wanted to attend the meeting, if not today at least tomorrow, but could not because doctors advised him to take rest for another three-four days." “He (BJP president Rajnath Singh) spoke to him personally and asked him (LK Advani) not to take the strain to attend the meet,” Javadekar further said. (With Agency inputs)