Keshubhai,Advani,Modi come together for Somnath Trust meet

Almost an hour-long discussion on development work going on at the temple ended with lunch. It was followed by Advani,who was reportedly sulking following the elevation of Modi as PM candidate,appreciating the CM and wishing that he became the PM.

The decision over the new trustee,however,was kept pending. While Modi and Advani,who had started his Rath Yatra in October 1990 from the temple,are the trustees,Patel has been the trust’s chairman for seven consecutive terms. Though his term expired mid-2013,with all eight trustees not able get together,the decision was kept pending. “Of the eight trustees,only four were present,” said a source. Former Gujarat Chief Secretary and trustee P K Laheri said,“The discussion focussed on development work at the temple.”.

Modi’s apparent gestures of win back Patel,who,in the run up to the 2012 Assembly elections launched the Gujarat Parivartan Party,are an indication that he would like his predecessor to continue as the trust’s chairman. After winning the December 2012 polls,Modi went to see Patel,who had unleashed a personal attack on him during campaigning. Modi again paid him a visit on September 17 to seek the octogenarian leader’s blessing on his birthday.