New Delhi, Jun 11: BJP today reached a truce with sulking patriarch L K Advani who agreed not to press for his resignation from key party posts after RSS intervened to end the two-day crisis triggered by his opposition to Narendra Modi's elevation.
"Today afternoon, RSS sarsanghchalak (chief) Shri Mohan Bhagwat spoke to Shri Advani and asked him to respect BJP Parliamentary Board decision and continue to guide the party in national interest.
"Shri Advani has decided to accept Shri Bhagwat's advice," said a statement read out by party President Rajnath after meeting Advani in the company of other leaders.
Flanked by leaders including Sushma Swaraj and Nitin Gadkari, Singh made the announcement at Advani's residence but the party veteran was conspicuous by his absence.
Asked why Advani was not present, Singh said, "I told him that this is my press conference and it will not look nice that you sit and hear me."
In a bid to mollify Advani, Singh said he had assured him that all his "concerns" regarding functioning of the party, which he had cited as a reason for quitting the party posts, would be "properly addressed".
"The President will discuss the modalities of addressing these concerns with Shri Advani," Singh said without elaborating.
Earlier in the day, the party chief made it clear that there will be no going back on the decision to appoint Modi as Campaign Committee chief, a major cause for Advani's resignation.
The denouement to the two-day political drama came after hectic parleys and persuasion by a number of leaders who met Advani and impressed on him the need to end the crisis triggered by his resignation.
Full text of statement issued by BJP
The BJP Parliamentary Board yesterday decided not to accept Shri L.K. Advani's resignation from the three main fora of the Party – the National Executive, Parliamentary Board and Election Committee and requested him to continue to be a member of these three Bodies.
On behalf of the Party Shri Rajnath Singh assured Shri Advani that his concerns about the functioning of the Party would be properly addressed and the President will discuss the modalities of addressing these concerns with Shri Advani.
Today afternoon, RSS Sarsanghchalak, Shri Mohan Bhagwat spoke to Shri Advani and asked him to respect the BJP Parliamentary Board decision and continue to guide the Party in national interest. Shri Advani has decided to accept Shri Bhagwat's advice.
