In an attempt to settle the reported differences with BJP veteran LK Advani, Gujarat chief minister Narendra ModiNarendra Modi came out in support of Advani’s Janchetna Yatra in his blog on Monday.
Modi had skipped the two-day party national executive meet in September-end, indicating a cold war between the two leaders.
On Monday, on the eve of the yatra, as Advani indicated that he was not out of the race for the prime minister's post, Modi wrote: "I had the honour of having worked in very close proximity with Advaniji. It is extremely unfortunate and condemnable that (people with) some vested interests are spreading rumours about him."
The yatra, Modi wrote, should be viewed in the backdrop of the agitations by yoga guru Baba Ramdev and social activist Anna Hazare against corruption.
The Gujarat chief minister also made an effort to placate his Bihar counterpart, NDA ally Nitish Kumar, who had so far kept him at arm’s length, but would be flagging off Advani’s yatra on Tuesday.
Without naming Kumar, Modi wrote: "Sometimes, some pleasant things take place too. It was a Bihar chief minister who had once prevented Advaniji’s yatra. It is from the same Bihar that another chief minister is flagging off the yatra."
{{/usCountry}}Without naming Kumar, Modi wrote: "Sometimes, some pleasant things take place too. It was a Bihar chief minister who had once prevented Advaniji’s yatra. It is from the same Bihar that another chief minister is flagging off the yatra."
{{/usCountry}}But despite his tributes to Advani, the chief minister did not confirm senior party leader Ravishankar Prasad’s Sunday’s statement that he would be present to welcome the yatra when it enters Gujarat.