The media controversy over lK Advani's "as humble as Vajpayee" remarks for Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan saw the party going into a damage control exercise on Monday and insisting that the veteran leader was misinterpreted. The party claimed that 'too much' was read into Advani statement to suggest he pitted Chouhan against Gujarat CM Narendra Modi with the intention to run down the latter.
The party chief tried to pamper Modi by reiterating that he was the most popular leader of the party. Even Chouhan told reporters in Bhopal that his comparison with 'senior and elder brother' Modi was unfair. Party leadership was apparently worried that any "Modi versus Chouhan" media hype would have a direct bearing on its National Executive later this week in Goa.
"There cannot be two opinions that Narendra Modi is the most popular leader in the country," Singh said in Hyderabad. He also quickly added that any decision on projecting someone as Prime Ministerial candidate would be taken by the Parliamentary Board.
Modi had apparently called up Singh after Advani's Saturday remarks in Gwalior. The BJP chief is also learnt to have spoken to Advani on Monday to apprise him about the sentiments expressed by Modi.
Sources claimed a proposal to appoint Modi as chief of the campaign committee for lok Sabha was supposed to be brought on the table of discussion at the party meet in Goa, but it has taken a backseat after the controversy over Advani's remarks. Interestingly, Advani had suggested a similar sort of role for former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari for Assembly polls due later this year. That came as surprise to many in the BJP, for Advani was seen as someone who was opposed to a second term to Gadkari as party chief.
Advani's love for Chouhan as well, has been a matter of intense speculation in the BJP circles. But BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy felt otherwise. "It was quite natural that Advani would have praised Chouhan in front of his State leadership when the party is gearing for the Assembly poll. It was attempted to boost the morale of party workers," Rudy said.
Even Chouhan felt Advani did not single out him in praising. "I want to say with all humility that Advani first praised Narendra Modi for his excellent work. He then praised Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh Chief Minister). He also extolled Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Advani also praised the work done by BJP's Madhya Pradesh Government led by me. So he did not praise any individual. He praised all (BJP) Chief Ministers, our style of functioning. This is what he meant to say...This is the gist of what he said," Chouhan told reporters in Bhopal.
Chouhan also appeared to rule himself out of contention for becoming BJP's Prime Ministerial choice, saying, "Narendra Modi is my senior, an elder brother. Raman Singh is also senior to me. leave alone being number one, or number two, I am not even at number three."