New Delhi:
At a press conference held in his home to announce that
LK Advani was withdrawing his resignation, the BJP stalwart's absence was conspicuous. BJP chief
Rajnath Singh announced the rapprochement last evening surrounded by other party leaders. He also had an explanation for why Mr Advani had not joined them. (Read:
Reconciled. LK Advani back on board, Narendra Modi untouched)
Mr Singh said it would have been disrespectful to have Mr Advani attend an announcement about him. Mr Advani has still not spoken publicly. The last communication from him was his strongly-worded resignation letter that was made public despite an appeal from the party president that it be kept confidential. (Read:
Highlight of Rajnath Singh's press conference)
Also missing is a clear picture of the terms of the compromise - it's not clear what the BJP ceded to secure Mr Advani's return. On record, the BJP chief said only that in future, he will directly address any concerns that Mr Advani has about the party.
For Mr Advani, the rapprochement with the BJP suggests another reconciliation - to the primacy of
Narendra Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister, who was chosen to lead the BJP's election campaign despite Mr Advani's ardent opposition.
Mr Modi tweeted from Gujarat last evening, "I had said yesterday that Advani ji will not disappoint lakhs of Karyakartas. Today, I whole heartedly welcome his decision!"
Sources say that Mr Advani has been assured that Mr Modi's appointment as the chairman of the campaign committee will not automatically lead to his selection as the party's prime ministerial candidate. The BJP has reportedly promised extensive consultations to select its presumptive prime minister.
Earlier on Tuesday evening, Mr Advani spoke to Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the BJP's powerful ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS. In that conversation, the BJP said, Mr Advani was persuaded to "respect the parliamentary board's decision" to reject his resignation from the national executive, the parliamentary board and the election committee.
Mr Advani was reported to be deeply offended by the RSS' alleged decision to have the BJP announce Mr Modi's promotion as election chief at a conference in Goa even though Mr Advani was absent.