New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) Putting an end to a growing controversy, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani Thursday said he has decided to contest from the Gandhinagar constituency, after he was mollified by party leaders, including Rajnath Singh and Narendra Modi, and told he was free to choose between the Gujarat seat and Bhopal.
The octogenarian leader had reportedly gone into a sulk after he was told to contest from Gandhinagar and not his choice Bhopal.
But a series of meetings with senior party leaders as well as a telephonic talk with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) brought the former deputy prime minister around and he agreed to go with Gandhinagar.
"I have decided to contest the 2014 general elections from Gandhinagar itself. I have conveyed my opinion to Rajnath Singh," the 86-year-old Advani said in a statement.
Advani said he was approached by Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Modi, who came to his residence "and emphasised that the people of Gujarat are keen that I represent Gandhinagar in the Lok Sabha once again".
He has won the seat five times.
Advani said he was informed by party chief Rajnath Singh that the Madhya Pradesh unit had also suggested his name for contesting from Bhopal.
He said he was informed that "the choice between the two parliamentary seats should be left to me".
Advani said he was "deeply touched by this gesture of my party colleagues", and also expressed gratitude to BJP members from Madhya Pradesh, including Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, for proposing his name for the Bhopal seat.
The senior leader had expressed his displeasure ever since the party announced his name for Gandhinagar Wednesday as he was keen to fight from Bhopal.
Advani is known to be close to Shivraj Singh Chouhan and has publicly praised his governance over that of Modi.
Advani was believed not to be keen to fight from Gandhinagar as a result of his tense relationship with the Gujarat chief minister.
He has earlier made known his unhappiness at Modi being made the BJP campaign chief and also the prime ministerial candidate, though he came round later and expressed support for his former protege.
Advani had conveyed to Rajnath Singh that he should be allowed to choose his constituency as some other party leaders have been allowed to do, sources said.
In an indication of the party's attempt to mollify the senior leader, Rajnath Singh had announced in Chennai earlier in the day that Advani was free to choose between Bhopal and Gandhinagar and it has been conveyed to him.
Advani, who has been a prime ministerial aspirant, was approached by senior party leaders Sushma Swaraj and Modi separately in the morning.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is also believed to have spoken to him and urged him to go with the party parliamentary board's decision of Gandhinagar.
But seat choice troubles are not over for the BJP as another senior leader Jaswant Singh Thursday indicated he wanted to be given his constituency of choice.
Singh, 75, is reported to be keen to contest from Barmer in Rajasthan.
Though he has never represented Barmer in the Lok Sabha, sources said he has conveyed to the party that he wants to contest what is likely to be his last election from the constituency.
Singh has won Lok Sabha elections before from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan in 1991 and 1996 and from Darjeeling in West Bengal in 2009.
Data Leak: CyberX 9 claims, that Vodafone-Idea's 206 million postpaid customers' data leaked
Cyber security research firm CyberX9 has claimed in its report that the call data records of 206 million (20.6 million) postpaid customers were leaked due to vulnerabilities in the systems of
Changes From 1 June: These 5 big changes will happen from June 1 in many sectors including banking, insurance, and home loan, your pocket will be affected
There is continuous development in India and in this process of moving forward, the rules are also changing from time to time. Now many changes are going to happen in the country from June 1. These
Ayodhya: Pakistani artists will also participate in the Ramlila organized on the inauguration of the Ram temple, which will start on January 17.
Ramleela of film artists will be seen in a new color this time. In Ramlila, artists from 14 countries including Pakistan will be seen bringing alive the story of Ram. To celebrate the inauguration of
Coronavirus Update: Corona cases are continuously decreasing across the country, active cases have come down to around 5500
There is now a continuous decline in corona cases in the country. In the last few days, there has also been an increase in the number of people who beat Corona. According to the data released by the
New law to track black money: Jaitley
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Saturday said the government was committed to tracing black money stashed abroad and a comprehensive new law will be framed to track it."On
India China Relation: Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles expressed concern about the South China Sea, and raised questions about China's attitude
Australian Defense Minister: Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said that China's dogmatic attitude in the South China Sea is the same as it has been towards India regarding the Line of Actual
Russia-Ukraine War Updates: Putin may declare war on Ukraine, Zelensky's taunt - Forgot the lesson of Second World War
It has been more than two months since the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Russia has so far been calling it a special operation. US officials believe that now Russia can formally declare war on Ukraine
Kerala Diaspora meet to Scout for Investments
Kochi, Jan 15 (IANS) The two-day Global NRK Meet that begins here Friday will scout for investments from the cash-rich Kerala diaspora, an official said Thursday.The meet is being organised by the
Presidential Election 2022: Naveen Patnaik came in support of Draupadi Murmu, said- 'Vote for Odisha's daughter beyond party line'
Naveen Patnaik On Draupadi Murmu: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced his support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu.
Railway Minister flags off two new Trains
Hyderabad, Jan 19 (IANS) Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu Monday flagged off two new trains of South Central Railway at Secunderabad Railway Station here.He showed a green flag to the
