Advani not to address BJP meet?

Bangalore: As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) commenced its largest strategy meet on Thursday since coming to power at the centre, it remained unclear if veteran leader L.K. Advani will address the national executive meet.

The three-day BJP conclave is holding the national office bearers' meet on Thursday and its national executive meet is scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

Evading a direct reply to the question, party spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said "the party has the guidance of all senior leaders" while refusing to state whether or not Advani would deliver a speech.

Advani, one of BJP's main founding members and tallest leaders, has attended and addressed at all national executive meetings of the party, except during the last meet in Goa when Narendra Modi was announced to be the head of party's campaign committee in Lok Sabha polls.

Advani had not only skipped the event but also sent a letter resigning from all posts of the party.

His differences with the party's decision were later reconciled. After that more than once Advani has congratulated Modi for leading the BJP to victory in general elections.

According to party sources, this time Advani, a three-time BJP president, is not keen on addressing the party's national executive meet.

Sources added that organisation secretary of the party Ramlal met Advani in Delhi days before the meet over the issue. But it was not clear if Advani will speak at the forum.

Advani, along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Murli Manohar Joshi, is a part of a 'Margdarshak Mandal' , or the party's guiding committee which includes Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh.

The three veterans have already been eased out of BJP's parliamentary board, the highest decision making body of the party.

The guiding committee, however, has not held a single meet since being set up last August.