New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to attend the two-day national executive meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) beginning here Friday, triggering speculation of a rift in the party, sources said.


The official version given by the party is that he is caught up in the busy schedule related to the Navaratra festival.

Party president Nitin Gadkari said here Thursday: "We are speaking to him. He comes usually, but there are some issues due to Navratras."

However, some political circles attribute the "no show plan" to Modi's differences with party leader L.K. Advani, who is planning a nation-wide 'yatra' from Oct 11.

Modi, who went on a three-day 'sadbhavna' (goodwill) fast in Ahmedabad earlier this month, is widely perceived as a prime ministerial candidate of the BJP.

However, a BJP leader told IANS that reports of the reasons of Modi's non-participation were "motivated misinformation".