Narendra Modi holds talks with RSS leaders in Nagpur

NAGPUR: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi tonight held a closed-door meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and General Secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi, his first interaction with the top Sangh leadership after his elevation in BJP.

Modi is believed to have discussed the political situation in the country and BJP's strategy in coming Lok Sabha and assembly elections. He had recently courted controversy over his `puppy' and `veil secularism' remarks.

Modi, who was last month appointed chief of BJP's campaign committee for 2014 polls, arrived here from Odisha and went straight to the RSS headquarters, `Hedgewar Bhawan', in Mahal area of the city.

The Chief Minister was closeted with Bhagwat and Joshi for almost two and half hours. BJP coordinator Ram Lal was also present.

Former BJP President Nitin Gadkari, who arrived here from Mumbai by a flight, met Modi for a few minutes and later left for his residence.

Gadkari, considered close to RSS which was said to have played a key role in his appointment as BJP President in 2009, was not present during the meeting between Modi and RSS leaders.

Modi became the fourth top BJP leader to visit the Sangh headquarters in the last two weeks.

Earlier, the Gujarat strongman was accorded a warm welcome by BJP workers at the city airport.

On his return to the airport, Modi did not talk to the media and left for Ahmedabad by a special flight.