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Advani shares dais with Modi

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Press Trust of India Bhopal
Last Updated : Sep 25 2013 | 6:36 PM IST
In a show of unity, L K Advani and Narendra Modi along with a galaxy of BJP leaders today shared a public platform for the first time after the declaration of party's prime ministerial candidate, who said it will be CBI and not the Congress which will fight the coming elections.
Claiming a wave across the country in favour of BJP, Modi unleashed an attack on the UPA government, accusing it of misusing the CBI to target political opponents. He said it will be the agency that will "fight" the coming assembly and Lok Sabha elections and not the Congress party.
"The Congress party is not going to field candidates in the elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi and the next Lok Sabha polls. Congress will not fight the next Lok Sabha elections but will field the CBI instead," he said addressing a big BJP workers' congregation.
However, a sense of lack of warmth between the party patriarch and the Gujarat Chief Minister was apparent as the two were not seen talking to each other.
Advani, who had sulked over the elevation of Modi by BJP Parliamentary Board recently and later appeared to have reconciled to it, was prompt in reciprocating Chouhan touching his feet as a mark of respect but gave a cold response when the Gujarat Chief Minister bent to seek his blessings. Advani merely folded his hands without looking at him.
Earlier too, when party activists sought to bring all the top leaders for a photo-op under a huge garland of flowers, there was a gap between Advani and Modi, who beseeched Rajnath Singh to come in between.

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However, after the rally ended Modi grabbed Advani's hand for a photo-op. The two leaders chatted briefly with Advani's hand on Modi's shoulders.
In his speech, Advani said it was a matter of pride that the Prime Ministerial candidate chosen by the party was in their midst. He also praised Modi's role in complete electrification of Gujarat, which was followed by Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Chief Ministers.
Witnessed by BJP's top leadership including party President Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, Modi acknowledged that Advani was the guiding light of the party.

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First Published: Sep 25 2013 | 6:36 PM IST

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