No rift between BJP leaders and Advani: Rajnath Singh

Advani publicly praised Modi for the first time today in a rally

Hours after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Lal Krishna Advani publicly praised the party's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, BJP President Rajnath Singh on Monday pointed out that there is no truth in media reports that there is rift between the party and Advani.

"Of course, why wouldn't he (Advani) praise Modi? He has been in Advani ji's good books always. Everything is alright and there is no rift between us," he said.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi echoing similar sentiments said that all those who stated that Advani was upset over the anointment of Modi as the Prime Ministerial candidate were wrong.

"Those who thought that Advani ji was upset over anointment of Narendra Modi as BJP's PM candidate were wrong," he said.

Advani, who was addressing a rally in Chhatisgarh earlier in the day, publicly praised Modi for the first time after his elevation.

"Gujarat has improved a lot in infrastructure and electricity. I give this example because Narendra Modi, who my party has appointed as 2014 PM candidate, has done a lot for development in Gujarat state," he said.

This was Advani's first public appearance since he objected to the BJP's decision to declare Modi its choice for PM on Friday.

Advani was not present in the parliamentary board meeting, which unanimously decided to project Modi as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections.

He had also written a letter to BJP President Rajnath Singh to express his disappointment over the latter's style of functioning.