BJP misses Vajpayee the campaigner: Advani

Senior BJP leader L K Advani on Sunday night bemoaned party veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee's absence in the ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign.

"Vajpayee not being around during the ongoing campaign is painful. During the last elections, Vajpayee did not campaign much, but he was at least there," Advani said at a joint rally of Shiv Sena-BJP combine in Mumbai.

Advani also expressed disappointment over Sena chief Bal Thackeray not being there at the rally due to health considerations.

"This is the first time that both Vajpayee and Thackeray are not able to campaign. This is a shortcoming but also a challenge for us to get such elections results under their guidance that they feel satisfied."

Advani called on Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray at his residence. Advani visited 'Matoshree', the residence of Thackeray in suburban Bandra, after addressing a joint campaign rally with Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray.

The senior BJP leader was accompanied by party general secretary Gopinath Munde and the state president Nitin Gadkari.

During the meeting, which lasted over half-an-hour, Thackeray wished Advani success in the upcoming polls and expressed confidence that the BJP leader would be the next prime minister, Gadkari said.

Thackeray did not attend the rally held at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai citing ill health and addressed the gathering through a pre-recorded video message.