Modi orders Gujarat BJP to make Advani visit a grand affair

mangaloretoday.com

Ahmedabad, Oct 16: Narendra Modi is hosting LK Advani in Gujarat today and has pulled out all stops to make it a grand visit for his mentor, now estranged.

The two BJP leaders first attended a closed-door meeting of the Somnath temple trust in Ahmedabad. In brief photo-ops, they were seen chatting with each other.

After the one-hour meeting ended, they left in the same car and arrived at the Sabarmati river front to inaugurate a number of gardens built along the river.  Through the days today, they will share the stage at a series of inaugurations and functions where Mr Advani will be the guest of honour.

 

This is the first time that the two are meeting in Gujarat after the BJP named Mr Modi its candidate for Prime Minister in 2014, steamrolling over Mr Advani’s vehement objections.

Sources in the Gujarat BJP said the Gujarat Chief Minster has issued instructions that Mr Advani must receive a rousing reception wherever he goes today. The BJP veteran is the Lok Sabha MP from Gandhinagar.

When the two leaders were last seen in public together, at a massive Bhopal rally in September, Mr Advani made no move to mask the cold vibes he shares with Mr Modi. As Mr Modi touched his feet, Mr Advani stared stonily ahead and did not "bless him" the way he did other leaders like Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The 85-year-old Mr Advani had opposed the elevation of Mr Modi first as the BJP’s election campaign chief and then last month as the party’s candidate for prime minister for the 2014 general elections. He failed to move the party each time.

Soon after he was named presumptive PM, Mr Modi had met Mr Advani at the birthday party of another BJP leader Ram Jethmalani. Amid much awkwardness, both had avoided sitting next to each other despite the best efforts of the host.