Advani to skip Modi’s Patna rally

Reporters were informed about Advani’s decision by BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar,who is in Patna to prepare for the rally.

Besides Modi,BJP president Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley will address the rally,Ananth Kumar said. He downplayed Advani’s decision to not attend the rally,saying it was the party’s strategy. “All the top leaders cannot attend the 1,000 rallies planned by the party before the 2014 Parliamentary elections,” he said.

When asked if Advani’s absence was related to his personal relations with Nitish Kumar,he said, “It is all speculation… BJP is one and all its leaders are working towards the common goal of a Congress free country.”

Advani had earlier resisted Modi’s elevation as the party’s campaign committee chief and later as prime ministerial candidate. The JD(U) has,meanwhile,openly spoken of its respect for the BJP patriarch,who was the architect of the tie-up between the NDA allies before their split in June. During a recent National Integration Council meeting in Delhi,Nitish Kumar and Advani were seen greeting each other,which set tongues wagging in political circles.