Advani and Swaraj decided not not to attend the customary meeting that followed the two-day National Executive paved the way for a second term to incumbent President Nitin Gakari, who had extracted the resignation of Sanjay Joshi at the instance of Modi.
However, BJP spokespersons sought to downplay their absence saying the two had pre-scheduled engagements to meet and their absence was known well in advance.
Like Modi's threatened absence and his lifting of the boycott later in the evening yesterday after announcement of Joshi's resignation yesterday morning, the absence of Advani and Sushma dominated today's show.
Their absence was seen as a sign of their sulk over the second term for Gadkari, which said to be at the instance of RSS, and the apparent growing influence of Modi.
However, the meeting today saw the presence of former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has his own litany of problems with the party leadership and who had earlier announced that he would not attend the meeting.
Modi and Gadkari are set to be the star speakers at the rally with a senior leader remarking that their bonhomie has upset other senior leaders, including Advani and Swaraj. MORE
