Gorakhpur (UP), July 16: In what is seen as a move to bridge the gap between BJP and Hindu Mahasabha, a dominating factor in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today met national president of Mahasabha Avedhnath and also paid obeisance at the Gorakh Nath Mandir here. Differences cropped up between local BJP unit and members of Mahasabha which resulted in the latter putting up its candidate against the BJP nominee and wresting the seat from BJP in the last assembly elections.
There are as many as 42 assembly constituencies and nine parliamentary seats in eastern UP. Advani, who drove straight to the temple from the airport, paid obeisance at the age-old temple before having a closed-door brief meeting with Avedhnath, who is also a former MP.
Local sources said differences between BJP local unit and Mahasabha were evident from the fact that most of the senior leaders from the local unit, who were present at the airport, stayed away from the temple function.
This was, however, denied by UP BJP president Vinay Katiyar who accompanied Advani from Delhi. He claimed that many members were present at the temple function as well. Advani also inaugurated a hospital run by the Gorakh Dharmath Trust and addressed a public meeting in the premises of the temple. Bureau Report