With the party patriarch L K Advani and some other senior leaders keeping away from the deliberations of its National Executive here, the BJP was tonight struggling to resolve its dilemma over Narendra Modi's role in the 2014 elections, an issue over which there appeared to be divisions within.
Advani's absence as also that of Yashwant Sinha, Jaswant Singh, Uma Bharati and Shatrughan Sinha over shadowed its 400-member strong National Executive which formally discussed economic, foreign and other issues including the Maoists problem.
Party President Rajnath Singh put a brave face on the situation by saying 85-year-old Advani had been told by him to stay back in Delhi because of ill health. Yesterday the party had indicated that he may fly to Goa but it became clear that he will skip the Goa conclave which concludes tomorrow.
Given the divisions, it was far from clear whether Modi would be anointed the Chairman of the 2014 election campaign committee at this conclave for which there is clamour from his supporters and the rank and file.
Even as party Vice President Muktar Abbas Naqvi promised a "major announcement" tomorrow, Singh was said to be working through back channels to find a way out.
Various formulae were up in the air including one under which Modi may be made Convener rather than Chairman of the campaign committee and another committee may be set up for the management of election, something the Advani camp has reportedly been pressing for.
Party spokesman Prakash Javadekar counselled the media to wait for the concluding day tomorrow when the party leaders would go back to the states "with new energy, new confidence and new enthusiasm".
At the same time, he said in BJP major decisions are not taken without consensus at the top level that perhaps indicates that a decision on Modi's role may be put off.
