Advani not in race for PM post, RSS backs Modi's quest for Muslims' goodwill

Nagpur/Ahmedabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani on Wednesday said that he is not in the race to be the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Advani said it while talking to reporters after meeting Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat in Nagpur.

"From the RSS, to the Jan Sangh and to the BJP, I am happier to be a part of the party. I do not want to become the Prime Minister," Advani said when a journalist asked if he is the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the next general elections.

At the same time,there is another piece of news which will be music to the ears of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parental organisation of BJP may not come in Modi's way of trying to mend fences with Muslim community.

Even though Modi might face the wrath of hardcore Hindu voters, following his bid to appease Muslims through his three-day Sadbhavna Mission, apparently, he has got the tacit support from the RSS.

According to a report, the RSS has asked Advani to de-link his yatra from the question of leadership for the next Lok Sabha election in the BJP. Another report says that the RSS has also suggested Advani to drop the Yatra plan because such kind of movement can lead to a debate about whether Advani is being projected for the prime ministerial candidate in the BJP.

The support for Modi has started growing in the political circles as well as in the RSS as the three-day fast, which started on September 17, was attended by a large number of Muslims.

Modi, as part of his let bygones be bygones, opened his arms to the community, thundering that all 6 crore Gujaratis are his own.

As the fast ended, there was speculation as to how RSS will react to Modi's new 'avtar'. However, if state unit of RSS is to be believed, there has not been any change in its stand towards Modi. State RSS functionaries made it clear that the organisation has no differences with Modi or BJP on the issue.

However, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) was conspicuous by its absence during the function. They apparently did not like Modi's new agenda and refrained from attending Modi's fast.

"All rumours that RSS is averse to Modi's new 'political move' are fringe of an imagination," said Amrut Kadivala, RSS chief of Gujarat. "In fact, I, along with Pravin Hotia, Prant Pracharak, was present on the first day of Sadbhavna Mission," he said. 

According to sources, the VHP had asked their workers not to attend the function. A senior VHP leader said, "We have lot many works to do apart from politics."

Over 11,000 Muslims were expected to meet Modi, during the three days of his fast at the Gujarat University Convention Centre. Many religious leaders, community leaders and Maulanas came to greet Modi. According to BJP sources, the huge gathering of Muslims raised quite a few eyebrows in Sangh family.

Moreover, Modi has announced he will spend a day in each district of Gujarat as part of his Sadbhavana Mission. Since this is also being viewed as a form of "yatra", there are apprehensions that Modi may hog all the limelight and put Advani's rathyatra in the shadow.