Panaji:
A chartered plane stood ready this morning to fly LK Advani to Goa, but the BJP senior sent word that he will not be taking that flight to attend the party's national executive. Mr Advani, who has never missed a major BJP meeting, has said he is too unwell. He has confirmed that he will not be in Goa tomorrow.
His absence is a colossal blow as the main opposition party puts in place its strategy for elections in five states and the national polls after that; the veteran has for decades been at the forefront of political planning in the BJP. It is also seen as an ominous signal for Narendra Modi who is expected to be elevated at the Goa meeting as the party's election committee chief.
Mr Advani leads a faction that is against Mr Modi's promotion. He had skipped an important meeting of party office-bearers yesterday too and has extended his sick leave amid indications that his opposition to Mr Modi's elevation could be ignored and the Gujarat Chief Minister could be anointed head of the election panel on Sunday, Day 2 of the conclave of 300 leaders that begins today.
Sources say the promotion of the controversial Chief Minister was listed on Thursday as an imperative to party president Rajnath Singh by the BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS.
But Mr Advani reportedly wanted the decision on Mr Modi's elevation to be taken after the elections in five states this year. According to Mr Advani, sources say, Mr Modi's elevation would shift the focus on him.
The party however says there is no reason to believe that Mr Advani's absence telegraphs dissent. "He (LK Advani) is unwell that is why he isn't coming for the meeting. No need to infer anything else because of his absence," BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain said today.
Yesterday, BJP president Rajnath Singh too had made similar attempts to dismiss the signs of divide within the party.
But his continued absence today will hand more ammunition to the BJP's rivals like the ruling Congress which has already been taunting the party about its leadership tussle. Several other leaders affiliated to Mr Advani - Jaswant Singh, Uma Bharti, and Shatrughan Sinha - have also said they are too unwell to travel to Goa.