Advani not opposed to Narendra Modi8217;s elevation: Rajnath Singh

He has never said that Narendra Modi should not be declared BJPs prime ministerial candidate. There are no differences within the party on this decision, Singh said in Mumbai,seeking to downplay the rift in the party over the decision.

Singh said the decision was taken after gauging the popular mood in the country. Modi is the most popular leader in our democracy today, he added.

8216;Anguished8217; Advani writes to Rajnath,criticises his style of functioning

Singh took a dig at the Congress for the delay in announcing its PM candidate. I want to ask the Congress who their PM candidate is. Some of their Cabinet ministers say that Rahul Gandhi is their pick. This is probably the first time in independent India,that a ruling party is not unanimously naming its serving PM as the candidate,but hinting at other possible names, he said.

Singh reaffirmed that Advani had the right to question him and said Advani had not been isolated in the party.

He is our leader,our guardian and mentor. He has the right to get angry at us,thrash us,reprimand us. I will do what it takes to make necessary amends. If a father admonishes his child,it does not mean there is indiscipline in the family, Singh said,adding that people can expect Advani and Modi to share the stage at a party function in Bhopal on September 25.

Modi is BJP8217;s Prime Ministerial candidate despite Advani8217;s objection

In the capital,senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj,Ananth Kumar,Ravi Shankar Prasad and Balbir Punj called on Advani and expressed their solidarity with him.

Nobody is upset, Swaraj was reported to have said after the meeting.

That he is sulking is not true. I did not find him in a sulking mood, said another leader who met Advani Saturday.

Ravi Shankar Prasad sought to convey that all was well and also said Advani would attend the September 25 Bhopal rally.

L K Advani: Organiser to primary member

Advani is due to be in Chhattisgarh Monday at the invitation of Chief Minister Raman Singh to participate in two public functions and is also scheduled to address the gathering.

Advani Friday skipped the BJP parliamentary board meeting that decided to project Modi as the partys prime ministerial candidate. He also wrote a strong letter to Rajnath Singh,expressing his disappointment over what he said was the way Singh functioned.

However,Advani was not expected to quit any posts this time like he had in June in protest against Modis elevation as the partys 2014 poll campaign panel chief.