Modi fever: Advani skips first day of BJP's Goa meet, party workers give warm welcome to Modi

New Delhi, June 7: In what a Congress leader made a tongue-in-cheek comment about Modi fever, the BJP's tallest leader L K Advani decided to skip the first day of the party's Goa conclave citing ill-health as the reason. "If BJP leaders get ill because of Narendra Modi, think of what will happen to the country because of Modi", said Congress leader Rashid Alvi. But, BJP president Rajnath Singh, who arrived in Goa, told mediapersons to smoothe ruffled feathers that he had himself requested Advani to take rest today and join the BJP meet from tomorrow. BJP's acerbic leader M. Venkaiah Naidu made wry comments about the media saying that it was reading too much into the party leaders' illness. "You may have you own deadline, we follow our own line", he commented. At the Panaji airport, there was a music band in attendance, as Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi arrived to attend the BJP meet. A large crowd of BJP workers gathered to welcome Modi. Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar himself was present with his supporters to welcome whom he had called "the face of BJP for the 2014 elections". The entire city of Panaji has been plastered with posters of Narendra Modi on the occasion of the BJP national executive meet. Party leaders said, Manohar Parrikar personally ensured that Modi get a huge welcome in Goa. On arrival at Panaji airport, Modi made a single remark expressing his grief over the death of Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's mother's death. "I pray to God to see that her soul rests in peace", said Modi, and walked away, refusing to take questions about the shenanigans going on inside the BJP. In Delhi, BJP leader Jaswant Singh told mediapersons he was going to the hospital. When reporters asked him the reason, Jaswant Singh shot back: "Don't you know why people go to hospital?"Firebrand sannyasin Uma Bharati has already said that she would not be attending the BJP national executive meet. PTI adds: 85-year-old Advani will not be attending today's meeting as he is unwell, party sources said. However, he will be attending the party National Executive on Saturday and Sunday in Goa. Gujarat Chief Narendra Modi's role in the next Lok Sabha election is expected to be the dominant theme of the BJP National Executive, amid a strong demand from some sections of the party for declaring him the campaign committee head. Ahead of the two-day conclave, Central office-bearers of the party will meet to discuss the agenda for the National Executive meet. Sources said some of the office-bearers are likely to press for declaring Modi as the campaign committee head during the conclave. But, a consensus on the issue is eluding the party top brass. As a result, the proposal may not see the light of day at the National Executive meet. “There is expectation among the cadre that BJP President Rajnath Singh will give out a clear message to the party at the Goa conclave. He has been working on it and is in consultation with BJP top brass and members of Parliamentary Board prior to the conclave,” BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy had said when asked about the issue. Asked if decks have been cleared for Modi to be announced as the campaign committee chief, Rudy had said that nothing has been firmed up yet. He refused to comment further on it. However, sources said Singh is still in consultation with the top leadership on the issue. Several top leaders of the party are, however, likely to skip the national executive. Vice President Uma Bharti, General Secretary Varun Gandhi, Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jaswant Singh and Shatrughan Sinha are not likely to attend, party sources said. While Bharati is unwell after a long tour for her Save Ganga project, Gandhi is away in Paris with his wife to spend some time after the demise of his new born child. Prasad is leading a delegation to Sri Lanka.

Modi fever: Advani skips first day of BJP's Goa meet, party workers give warm welcome to Modi

New Delhi, June 7: In what a Congress leader made a tongue-in-cheek comment about Modi fever, the BJP's tallest leader L K Advani decided to skip the first day of the party's Goa conclave citing

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