RSS intervenes, Advani taken back, Modi hails

A day after he quit key leadership posts and hit out at his colleagues, veteran LK Advani on Tuesday made a dramatic U-turn after the RSS intervened to end the BJP's worst ever crisis that could have harmed its political prospects ahead of the 2014 polls.

The apparent climb down by Advani came after Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat persuaded him to reverse his decision to quit the BJP's national executive, the parliamentary board and the election committee - indicating the growing clout the party's ideological parent clearly enjoys.

Advani's decision to relent was immediately hailed by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

"On behalf of the party, I assured Advaniji that his concerns regarding the functioning of the party would be addressed and I will discuss the modalities of addressing these concerns with him," said Rajnath Singh, one of the most vocal backers of Modi.

The BJP president was flanked by Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Uma Bharati and other senior leaders.

The BJP decision to elevate Modi, 62, which was made on Sunday at a party conclave in Goa, makes the Gujarat chief minister the face of the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections - a la Advani in 2009.

Advani did not attend the three-day conclave, claiming that he was ill. It was for the first time in his political career that he missed an important BJP meet.