Mumbai, May 25
BJP's internal problems showed no signs of ebbing with senior leader L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj today skipping a public meeting here as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi appeared to be strengthening his grip over it.

Advani and Swaraj decided not to attend the customary meeting that followed the two-day National Executive paved the way for a second term to incumbent president Nitin Gakari, who had extracted the resignation of Sanjay Joshi at the instance of Modi.

However, BJP spokespersons sought to downplay their absence saying the two had pre-scheduled engagements to meet and their absence was known well in advance.

Like Modi's threatened absence and his lifting of the boycott later in the evening yesterday after announcement of Joshi's resignation yesterday morning, the absence of Advani and Sushma dominated today's show. Their absence was seen as a sign of their sulk over the second term for Gadkari and the apparent growing influence of Modi.

However, the meeting today saw the presence of former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who has his own litany of problems with the party leadership and who had earlier announced that he would not attend the meeting.

Senior party leader L K Advani went into a sulk and announced that he would stay away from the party's rally in Mumbai shortly after Yeddyurappa expressed support for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

"Advani will not be attending today's rally because of a prior engagement. He is not angry. It was decided three days ago that Advani will not attend today's rally," party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said here this afternoon. According to BJP sources here, Advani had

left the national executive meeting early yesterday citing ill-health shortly after Modi arrived to attend the evening.

Meanwhile, supporters of Modi in the BJP were approaching journalists at the venue of the national executive to put out stories that the Gujarat CM will move to the Centre after the elections in that state later this year. “Modi is open to taking larger responsibilities in the party at the national level after the elections," a delegate from Gujarat was telling reporters.

BJP leaders, who are closely associated with Advani, are busy trying to shore up the image of the former Deputy PM. Party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad was at pains telling reporters yesterday that the planned May 31 all-India bandh against the increase in petrol prices was Advani's idea. "The bandh will be led by L K Advani," Prasad emphasised.

Interestingly, Advani was not present yesterday at the National Executive when the resolution to amend the party constitution to allow a second term to Gadkari was passed.

During separate briefings, BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Prasad sought to project a united picture saying that the party had announced earlier that Advani won't be present at the rally and, therefore, nothing should be read into the absence. (With PTI inputs )