India News: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whose arrival in Goa resulted in a section of the BJP leadership playing cheerleaders for him, even as party spokespersons tried to play down reports of a rift between the leadership over who should lead the party into the general elections.

Reports of a rift in the BJP camp were further fuelled after a string of party leaders like Varun Gandhi, Jaswant Singh and Uma Bharati, expressed their inability to attend the meet, some citing ill-health.

Advani also failed to turn up at the national office bearers meeting due to ill-health. He is expected to arrive in Goa to attend the national executive meet Saturday.