LK Advani's daughter calls out to Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Putting behind the acrimony over fielding senior BJP leader LK Advani from Gandhinagar, his daughter Pratibha on Saturday reached out to Narendra Modi, saying he should be given all support to become prime minister but weighed in that it was her father who had “lifted” the Gujarat chief minister early in his political career.

Pratibha used her Twitter handle to support Modi. “Mr Advani was one who lifted Namo & time demands Namo should be lifted in India as its PM so that India can recover its status of Viswaguru!!” she said.

After the 2002 Gujarat riots, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted Modi to resign as Gujarat Chief Minister. Advani defended Modi, who belonged to his camp, and ensured that he continued in office. But relations between Advani and Modi have taken a turn for the worse in recent months.

Advani had opposed Modi’s anointment as BJP campaign committee chief and later prime ministerial candidate. During the finalisation of tickets for the Lok Sabha elections, Advani had said that he has an offer to contest from Bhopal as well. Modi and other leaders prevailed upon him to stick to Gandhinagar.