Row erupts as Advani wishes to contest from Bhopal

Simmering tension between BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and party patriarch Lal Krishna Advani came to the fore yesterday on the issue of Advani's choice of a constituency to contest coming parliamentary elections.
Advani has expressed his desire to contest from Bhopal, capital city of central Indian state of BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, shifting from Gandhinagar city in Modi-ruled Gujarat. Advani has represented Gandhinagar constituency five times in the Lok Sabha.
The sources said if the party decides to field Advani from Bhopal, Modi's confidante and former Gujarat minister Amit Shah may be given nomination from Gandhinagar.
86-year-old Advani has argued that since most of the senior party leaders were giving their preferences of seats, he too should be allowed to make a choice.
Significantly, Advani skipped yesterday's crucial meeting of BJP's Parliamentary Board where senior party leaders including Rajnath Singh and Modi are learnt to have discussed the issue.
The party is insisting that Advani should contest from Gandhinagar as his shifting of constituency will send "wrong signals", the sources said.
Advani is not in the best of terms with Modi after he opposed Gujarat chief minister's anointment as BJP's PM candidate recently.
Sources said if the party decides to field Advani from Bhopal, Modi's confidante and former state minister Amit Shah may be given ticket from Gandhinagar.