Suspense over Advani's address as BJP National Executive meets in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 3: Bharatiya Janata Party's two-day national executive meet begins in the Karnataka capital on Friday, but all eyes will be on party doyen LK Advani whose name doesn't feature among the list of speakers at the event, sources said.

However, Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda confirmed that Advani will attend the meet.

"Advani ji will come here on Friday. He is a national executive member, not an office bearer so he will come only tomorrow," he said.

Evading a direct reply to the question, party spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said "the party has the guidance of all senior leaders".

Despite repeated questions, the BJP leader refused to say whether or not Advani would deliver a speech.

Advani, one of BJP's main founding members and tallest leaders, has attended and addressed at all national executive meetings of the party since 1980 when the party was founded, except one exception.

During the last meet in Goa when Narendra Modi was named the head of the party's campaign committee in Lok Sabha polls, not only did Advani skip the event but also sent a letter resigning from all posts of the party.

His differences with the party's decision were later reconciled and he took back his resignation. After that, Advani, more than once, has congratulated Modi for leading the BJP to victory in general elections.

According to party sources, this time Advani, a three-time BJP president, is not keen on addressing the party's national executive meet.

Sources added that organisation secretary of the party Ramlal met Advani in Delhi days before the meet over the issue. But it was not clear if Advani will speak at the forum.

Advani, along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Murli Manohar Joshi, is a part of a 'Margdarshak Mandal' , or the party's guiding committee which includes Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh.

The three veterans have already been eased out of BJP's parliamentary board, the highest decision-making body of the party.

The guiding committee, however, has not held a single meet since being set up last August.

In its ts national executive meet on Friday and Saturday, the BJP will focus on expanding its base in the country, especially among states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha where it is weak.

BJP leaders are also likely to discuss how to involve workers in the Clean India and Clean Ganga campaigns.

The meeting, which is likely to be the last one before the Bihar assembly polls, is also expected to focus on the state elections.

Also featuring on the agenda will be BJP's poor performance in Delhi, upcoming state polls and the party's membership drive.