Ahmedabad: BJP patriarch came, saw, but failed to conquer at ground-breaking event

Guess who came to the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Statue of Unity? It was none other than BJP veteran and Gandhinagar MP Lal Krishna Advani. Despite being the guest of honour at the meet, he was barely the centre of attention.

While Advani and chief minister Narendra Modi walked into the venue together at 10.55 am on Thursday, the lull in the camaraderie between the patriarch and his one-time protégé was palpable. Though the former addressed the programme, the only time he really received a rousing response was when he endorsed Modi as the party’s PM candidate.

“I’m glad that Modi is not only BJP’s representative for Gujarat but also our party’s choice to represent the country in future. I’m here to show my support and happiness for Modi being selected the BJP’s PM nominee,” said Advani.

The party also recounted at length historical events related to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel during his address. Other party leaders present there included MPs Smriti Irani and Mansukh Vasava, Gujarat assembly speaker Vajubhai Vala, ministers Saurabh Patel, Nitin Patel, Anandiben Patel, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and many others.