Rajnath, Advani pat Modi for poll sweep

Elated with the by election sweep in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi met BJP president Rajnath Singh and patron L K Advani ahead of the party’s Goa conclave.

Modi, who is here to attend the conference of CMs on internal security, went to Singh’s house in the afternoon. Congratulating Modi, Singh said the emphatic result is an expression of people’s anger against UPA government’s failure. Out of six by elections, two were for Lok Sabha seats and the remaining for the assembly.Modi responded saying the results were an ultimatum to the Centre.

Though it is not known what transpired in the meeting between the duo, party sources said Singh appears to have decided to make Modi election campaign committee chairman to quell the dissenting voices  from within.

It is in this context that Modi’s meeting Advani gained significance.

Advani is said to be opposed to making Modi the party’s poll mascot. At a recent public function in Gwalior, Advani had praised Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and even hailed his resemblance to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.