As it happened: Chant is definitely NaMo, NaMo, says BJP's Vijay Goel

5.45 pm: BJP’s Vijay Goel to Times Now Bharatiya Janata Party’s Delhi unit president Vijay Goel while defending party patriarch LK Advani’s absence from the Goa meet today admitted the wind of change is blowing towards Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. “The national executive will begin from tomorrow. Advani is unwell today and will be reaching Goa tomorrow. Media is simply speculating. Advani’s blessings are always with the party,” Goel told Times Now. “Definitely the chant from the cadre and the people is NaMo, NaMo. The way things are there will be somebody to lead the campaign. We are all looking to throw the UPA out of power,” he said. Rejecting there are internal differences within the party, the BJP Delhi unit chief said, “There is no pro or anti. It is a BJP camp. All appropriate decisions will be taken at the appropriate time. We will be chalking out a strong road map to root the UPA out.” Attacking the Congress, he said, “In Andhra Pradesh, Congress is cracking. Chhattisgarh is a huge problem. I have no idea if Rahul Gandhi or (Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh is the problem.” 4. 30 pm: No rift within the BJP says MPAdityanath Attempting to dispel rumours linking a rift within the party to LK Advani absence at today’s Goa meet, party MP Yogi Adityanath said there was no rift within the party. “LK Advani is a tall leader… There is no infighting in the party, he said. BJP MP Yogi Adityanath told media on Friday.” 4. 00 pm: LK Advani likely to announce Modi as poll campaign chief on Sunday The BJP is likely to announce Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its party’s election campaign committee chief, CNN-IBN reported. LK Advani will propose the name of Narendra Modi as the party’s campaign chief during his speech on 9 June, and the announcement will be seconded by the party President Rajnath Singh, CNN-IBN reported. 3. 45 pm: BJP Goa conclave begins, all eyes on Modi The three-day BJP national executive meeting began this afternoon, at a resort in Panaji, Goa. While today will be a meeting of party office bearers, the party’s top leaders will meet on Saturday and Sunday. 3. 30 pm: Parliamentary panel has to decide to on Modi: Smriti Irani In a possible indication of support for Narendra Modi as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, its national vice president Smriti Irani on Friday said the country and the party cadres were sure of their choice and it was now for the parliamentary board to decide. “We know what India wants, we know what BJP cadres want, but we don’t what the parliamentary board wants,” Smriti Irani told reporters outside the venue of the BJP’s national executive meeting being held in Panaji on Friday, responding to a question on whether Modi would be declared BJP’s PM candidate. When asked about Modi’s possible announcement as BJP’s election campaign committee head, she said that she cannot confirm or deny the development. 12:40 pm: Modi arrives , band plays The man of the moment Narendra Modi arrived at the Goa airport and gets a hero’s welcome with a brass band and supporters at hand to greet him as he stepped out of the airport. However, despite the raucous welcome, Modi made no comment about the ongoing national conclave and the missing BJP stalwart LK Advani. He did express his condolences to Finance Minister P Chidambaram whose mother passed away today. The brass band was briefly quiet as he expressed his condolences and then promptly struck up a tune once they realised he was done speaking. 12. 10 pm: I myself told Advani not to attend, says Rajnath Singh BJP President Rajnath Singh told reporters in Goa that he had advised LK Advani not to attend the first day of the meet due to his ill health. “I myself told him not to come today due to his health.. he will be attending the meet tomorrow,” Singh said. 11. 55 am: Modi’s elevation unacceptable to us, says JD(U) A JD(U) spokesperson has told Times Now that any move to give Modi a larger role would not be accepted by them. “Narendra Modi’s elevation for 2014 not acceptable to us… The man (Modi) who can’t be trust by the people cannot lead the party.” 11. 30 am: Rashid Alvi takes dig at BJP, Modi over Advani skipping meet Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi took a dig at the BJP over LK Advani skipping the first day of the Goa conclave.

Agar Narendra Modi ki wajah se BJP ke netaon ki tabiyat kharab ho jati hai toh BJP ko sochna chahiye ki desh ka kya haal hoga?-Rashid Alvi

— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2013

  11.20 am: Several key BJP leaders likely to skip Goa meet Several top leaders of the party are likely to skip the national executive meeting in Goa. Party Vice President Uma Bharti, General Secretary Varun Gandhi, Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jaswant Singh and Shatrughan Sinha are not likely to attend, party sources told PTI. While Bharati is unwell after a long tour for her Save Ganga project, Gandhi is away in Paris with his wife to spend some time after the demise of their new born child. Prasad is leading a delegation to Sri Lanka. 11. 10 am: Gujarat CM Narendra Modi leaves for Goa The party’s key leader Narendra Modi has left for Goa to attend the national executive meeting. While party sources have said it is unlikely that any announcement on Modi would be made, party workers are still hopeful that some announcement on Modi getting a larger national role will be made at the meet.  

Leaving for Goa to attend BJP National Executive Meet.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 7, 2013

  11. 00 am: Don’t read too much into Advani skipping meet, says Naidu Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu tried to do some political damage control saying one should not read too much into Advani not attending the national executive meeting in Goa. “Don’t try to say that this man is skipping, this man is not coming, it can happen that some people can’t attend the meet,” he said. “I spoke to him personally, he (LK Advani) is coming tomorrow.” 10. 30 am: SP takes dig at BJP, says Modi magic won’t work The Samajwadi Party on Friday took a dig at the BJP saying they were wrong in thinking Modi will be a hit for them. Party spokesperson Naresh Agarwal said: “If they (BJP) think that Modi will be a hit for them then then they are wrong, and this will be proved in the elections.” 10. 00 am: LK Advani to skip today’s meeting in Goa Senior BJP leader LK Advani will not attend the first day of the national executive meeting in Goa, sources have told CNN-IBN. Modi is reportedly upset over the way the party handled the Narendra Modi issue.  Economic Times has reported that Advani has cancelled his Goa meeting.

LK #Advani cancels #Goa visit, not to attend #BJP national executive meeting - reports

— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) June 7, 2013

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  [caption id=“attachment_850537” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AFP[/caption] The Bharatiya Janata Party’s three day national executive meeting begins on Friday where the party is likely to make a big announcement on who will head the election campaign committee for the Lok Sabha polls. While the clamour for  Narendra Modi  has only been growing louder, especially after veteran party leader LK Advani reluctantly decided to back the Gujarat Chief Minister, there still exists a faction within the party that is opposed to Modi being named in haste.